SEATTLE — 1,300 people climbed up Columbia Center’s 69 stories on Sunday to raise money for cancer research.
Since it started in 1987, the Seattle Big Climb has raised over $26 million in funding for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
One of the participants in Sunday’s event was 14-year-old Julius Wolfe, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia two years ago. After two rounds of chemotherapy failed to improve his condition, he underwent a bone marrow transplant in July 2021 and has been in remission since.
He completed the climb alongside his parents and 11-year-old brother.
“We’re climbing today for all the children and for Julius. We want to make sure … they’re not on experimental drugs anymore. We want to raise money for the Dare to Dream project through LLS so that kids can have a fighting chance,” said Tabitha Nilson, Julius’ mom. “It’s amazing to see how many people are coming out here to fight for the cause.”
This year’s event raised over $700,000, according to LLS.
Registration for next year’s event is expected to open in September.
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