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Stair Climbers Hit The Heights For Health

News Channel 8 photos by JIM FARQUHAR

Michele Nunez, top, and Amanda Daniels take their turns tackling the stairs at the Bank of America Plaza for the fourth annual Climb Tampa event.

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TBO.com

Published: March 21, 2009

TAMPA - Queue the theme from "Rocky."

More than 700 participants had the "Eye of the Tiger" as they huffed and puffed their way up 914 stairs today for the American Lung Association.

Some climbed the 42 flights at the Bank of America Plaza in Tampa for fun, others for charity and many in honor of a loved one lost to lung disease.

Amanda Daniels had a dual cause.

"I lost my grandmother to lung cancer," she said. "I have a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old … I want to show them what an active, healthy, happy lifestyle looks like."

She said the vertical trek wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be. "I want to go again," she said.

After finishing the challenge – some in 7 minutes or less – participants were treated to massages, smoothies and live entertainment.

More than $100,000 was raised to help fund research, education and preventative programs for the American Lung Association.

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