Golden Valley firefighter, Ken Bence, will be participating in his 15th Fight for Air Climb Sat, May 21, to raise money for the American Lung Association. In his 15 years, Bence has raised more than $75,000.
Bence was recognized by the Association at a Golden Valley City Council meeting in early May. Terri Waddell, a representative from the Minnesota American Lung Association noted Bence is one of the organization's top fundraisers and is a leader amongst the group of firefighters who participate in the climb.
“His leadership around the Fight for Air Climb has been second to none. He’s been a spark behind the success of the firefighter team challenge," she said. "You’ll often see his name on top of the leaderboard.”
The mission of the Lung Association hits close to home with firefighters. Respiratory diseases remain a significant health issue for firefighters and emergency responders. Firefighters are at a higher risk to develop chronic issues, including lingering cough, hoarseness, asthma, and allergies. In more extreme cases, they may be diagnosed with lung or bronchial cancer.
For more information on Bence, read a SunPost article here.
Photo credit: American Lung Association