Woodpeckers head Second Annual “Backpacks for Patriots”

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are teaming up with the Military Luggage Company, Off-Road Outreach, Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch, and Veterans Services of the Carolinas for the second annual “Backpacks for Patriots” program. This initiative provides backpacks and other essential items for unhoused veterans and low-income military families.

The Woodpeckers Foundation and Community Leaders Program have donated $7,500 for the purchase of 200 backpacks from the Military Luggage Company. The backpacks and essential items will be distributed to unhoused veterans and low-income military families on Monday, January 9th, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch. Several other services will also be available to those in need at this event.

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will be collecting donations for Backpacks for Patriots over the duration of their annual Fayetteville Holiday Lights, which runs December 8th through 23rd, 2022. Attendees are encouraged to bring new, packaged donations of paper towels, toilet paper, athletic clothing, handwarmers, deodorant and over-the-counter medicine. In return for donating, attendees will receive a voucher for a discounted ticket to the Fayetteville Holiday Lights night of their choosing. Donations will be collected beside the Truist Box Office at Segra Stadium nightly from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during Fayetteville Holiday Lights.

Backpacks for Patriots is part of the Community Leaders Program, which supports youth sports and military initiatives. For more information about the Woodpeckers, Community Leaders Program, or Fayetteville Holiday Lights, please visit https://www.milb.com/fayetteville

Woodpeckers To Host Annual ‘Fayetteville Holiday Lights’ Event 

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers **will host ‘Fayetteville Holiday Lights’ for fifteen days this December at Segra Stadium in the heart of downtown. Fayetteville Holiday Lights, presented by **AEVEX Aerospace, will take place December 8th – 23rd from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each night.

The event will include tens of thousands of holiday lights around the stadium, with displays on the concourse and a path of walk-through lights on the warning track of the field. Each night will bring a different theme, including fireworks, Christmas-themed characters, Beers & Cheers, and more. Patrons can also get their picture taken with Santa and participate in holiday crafts for free.

Not only will Fayetteville Holiday Lights give joy to families for the holiday season, but it will give back to the community as well. Community members and organizations can participate in the “Trees for Charity” portion of the event. Organizations can purchase a tree for $200 (which includes a six-foot live tree and tree stand) and partner with a local 501(c)(3) non-profit of their choice to decorate the tree for display during the duration of Fayetteville Holiday Lights. Throughout the event, spectators will vote on the best decorated tree and cash prizes will be awarded to the three non-profits with the most votes, courtesy of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and the Woodpeckers Foundation. To purchase a tree, visit the following link: https://form.jotform.com/fayettevillewoodpeckers/trees-for-charity

Tickets for Fayetteville Holiday Lights are available now. Adult tickets are $10 and children’s tickets (12u) are $8 if you buy in advance. If purchased the day of, tickets will be an additional $2. All current or former military will receive $1 off their ticket with proof of ID at the Truist Box Office. To purchase tickets for Fayetteville Holiday Lights or for more information on the event, visit our website or call the front office at (910) 339-1989.

Segra Stadium to Host Annual “United for Veterans”

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will host the annual “United for Veterans” event on Friday, November 11th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Segra Stadium. This event is free, open to the public and will have activities for all ages.

United for Veterans will feature a resource fair that will bring dozens of organizations together, offering services for veterans and military families. Among these will be organizations providing education services, medical information, employment assistance, mental health care, housing, fitness, recreational activities and more.

Along with the resource fair, there will be family activities around the concourse and a “Woodpeckers Yard Sale,” in which exclusive Woodpeckers jerseys and other items will be available for purchase. The Woodpeckers will also collect donations at this event for unhoused veterans. Anyone is welcome to bring donations such as shoes, handwarmers, paper towels, toilet paper and athletic clothing.

United for Veterans is one of over fifteen events happening in Cumberland County during Heroes Homecoming, a weeklong celebration of veterans and military families, organized by the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Heroes Homecoming is honoring the “Heroes at Home,” military families and spouses, along with veterans and active-duty members. Heroes Homecoming kicks off on Saturday, November 5th with the annual Veterans Day parade, and festivities continue through Saturday, November 12th.

For more information about United for Veterans or other upcoming events, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com.

Woodpeckers Announce Sponsorship of The Big Tiny Project

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are sponsoring The Big Tiny Project, an initiative to support homeless and at-risk veterans. The Big Tiny Project, created by the Fayetteville-based nonprofit Off-Road Outreach, is a planned tiny home community designed to be a bridge between being on the street and permanent housing. All services will be free of charge to veterans.

The Woodpeckers Foundation and Community Leaders Program donated $10,000 to The Big Tiny Project to cover the renovation of three 290-square-foot tiny homes that will house homeless and at- risk veterans. Other sponsors of The Big Tiny Project include Lowe’s, Wells Fargo, the All-Veteran Group, U.S. Veterans Corps, Window World and ServiceSource.

The purpose of The Big Tiny Project is to provide up to 180 days of bridge housing to homeless and at- risk veterans. The Big Tiny Project will provide on-site support for navigating benefits, identification services, mental and physical health referrals, financial counseling and employment. In addition, veterans can utilize a food pantry, community garden and transportation services. The project is set to be completed by the start of 2023.

“We are incredibly thankful to the Woodpeckers Foundation for their support of The Big Tiny Project,” said Stacey Buckner, the director and founder of Off-Road Outreach. “This bridge housing program is long overdue in Fayetteville and will satisfy an immediate need. We can’t wait to show the impact this will have on our veterans.”

For more information on the Woodpeckers Foundation and Community Leaders Program, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com.

Segra Stadium to Host 4th Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The 4th Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 10th at Segra Stadium. Opening ceremonies will begin at approximately 8:25am and the climb will start at 8:47am, a time significant on 9-11-2001.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters, police, and EMS who selflessly gave their lives on that tragic day 21 years ago. Each participant will pay tribute to those brave souls by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS are never forgotten.

Registration fees are $35 per person and include your participation in the climb, an honor badge of a fallen first responder, and a t-shirt. Online registration closes on Thursday, September 8th. Anyone interested in registering on event morning can begin doing so at 7:00am. All proceeds from the Stair Climb will benefit programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit. To register, please visit the Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Facebook page or the registration page.

Woodpeckers to host Alzheimer's Awareness Night at Segra Stadium

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – AUGUST 3, 2022 – The Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Chapter is teaming up with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers for Paint the Park Purple — Alzheimer’s Awareness Night on Friday, August 12 at Segra Stadium.

Proceeds from Paint the Park Purple will support the Association’s 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Fayetteville taking place on October 29 —to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

The game against the Down East Wood Ducks begins at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. The game will conclude with fireworks. Fans are encouraged to wear purple and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will take home a custom purple hat sponsored by Edward Jones Cumberland County featuring the Woodpeckers signature logo.

The Woodpeckers will take the field wearing purple jerseys in honor of all who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. A jersey auction will take place both in-game and online with the proceeds benefiting the Fayetteville Walk.

Those wishing to learn more about Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Fayetteville are invited to come early and stop by the Walk Kickoff Tent to learn more, meet the local committee, register for the Walk and pick up information and team captain resources. The tent will be located outside next to the stadium’s box office from 1 – 3 p.m.

The inaugural Paint the Park Purple took place in 2019 and has since raised over $16,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We appreciate the Fayetteville Woodpeckers support over the last several years to raise funds and awareness for a world without Alzheimer’s,” said Lisa Roberts, executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Alzheimer’s Association Awareness Nights like this provide the opportunity for us to talk about the impact Alzheimer’s and all other dementia has and the care and support the Association can provide to local families in Cumberland County and surrounding areas.”

To purchase tickets for Paint the Park Purple — Alzheimer’s Awareness Night click here.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In North Carolina alone, there are more than 180,000 people living with the disease and 356,000 caregivers.

To sign up as a walker or Team Captain or to learn more about becoming a sponsor of Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Fayetteville, visit act.alz.org/fayettevillenc or call 800-272-3900.

The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina including: Alamance County, Asheville, Charlotte, Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln Counties, Fayetteville, Guilford County, Henderson County, Iredell County, Jacksonville, Moore County, Mount Airy, New Bern, Rowan-Cabarrus Counties, Triangle (Raleigh and Durham), Unifour (formerly Hickory), Wilmington and Winston-Salem. To register and receive the latest updates on any of this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit: alz.org/walk.

Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.

About the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter

The Eastern North Carolina Chapter provides patient and family services, information and referral, education, and advocacy in 51 eastern North Carolina counties. It offers opportunities to get involved and to make a difference, in addition to a variety of services including: a 24/7 Helpline, support groups, educational programs, and MedicAlert®. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, or the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter, visit alz.org/nc or call 800-272-3900. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Woodpeckers Launch First Ability Inclusive Themed Game

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, in partnership with ServiceSource, Miller’s Crew, Bravery Kids Gym and the Vision Resource Center, will host its first-ever “Ability Awareness Day” at Segra Stadium. “Ability Awareness Day” will take place during the Woodpeckers game on Sunday, August 14th at 2:05 pm vs the Down East Wood Ducks. The goal of the initiative is to promote inclusion and celebrate the abilities of all people within Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

The day will kick off with a free baseball skills clinic for Special Olympics Cumberland County athletes. Prior to the first pitch, the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Buddy Sports baseball team will take the field with the Woodpeckers for starting lineups and the national anthem. Throughout the game, the Woodpeckers will hold a Houston Astros autographed baseball auction, with all proceeds benefitting ServiceSource, Miller’s Crew, Bravery Kids Gym and the Vision Resource Center. In addition, fans can purchase food at the Miller’s Crew food truck outside the front gates.

The Woodpeckers will transform a room inside the stadium into a sensory friendly space for those who may feel overwhelmed by the crowd, noise or other factors. Sensory friendly stations provided by Bravery Kids Gym will be set up around the concourse. Fans can also check out sensory friendly bags that include headphones, fidget toys and cue cards (available at the guest services table during every Woodpeckers game).

Fans can purchase tickets for the “Ability Awareness Day” game at fayettevillewoodpeckers.com/tickets or by visiting the Truist Box Office at Segra Stadium. For more information on “Ability Awareness Day,” please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com.

Woodpeckers Establish Youth Baseball Team with Boys & Girls Club 

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. —The Fayetteville Woodpeckers have partnered with the Boys & Girls Club to establish a youth baseball team. The “Junior Woodpeckers” provide members of the Boys & Girls Club with the opportunity to participate in baseball. As a 12U team, the “Junior Woodpeckers” compete in the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation youth baseball league.

The Woodpeckers Foundation and Community Leaders Program donated $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club to cover the costs of fees, uniforms and other expenses related to the baseball season. Uniforms include custom-made “Junior Woodpeckers” jerseys with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers logo on the sleeve. The purpose of the initiative is to provide children with the opportunity to compete in youth sports without financial barriers. The “Junior Woodpeckers” team is part of the Community Leaders Program, which supports youth sports and military initiatives in the Fayetteville area.

Members of the “Junior Woodpeckers” team will be showcased at the Fayetteville Woodpeckers game on Saturday, June 18th as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers take on the Fredericksburg Nationals. For more information on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, or to buy tickets for the game on June 18th, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com.

Segra Stadium To Host Inaugural ‘Jackie Robinson Showcase’ 

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers *will host an inaugural “Jackie Robinson Showcase” on Thursday, May 5th at *Segra Stadium. The showcase will feature three high school baseball teams, including E.E. Smith, Westover and 71st High School. Game times are set for 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The showcase aligns with Minor League Baseball’s new initiative, “The Nine.” Launched in 2022, the initiative is a Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión — the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

All costs for the showcase will be funded by the Woodpeckers Foundation. Admission is free and open to the public. Food and beverage will also be available on this day. For more information, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com.

Segra Stadium Earns Sensory Inclusive Certification

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The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will offer a sensory friendly environment at Segra Stadium beginning this season. The stadium earned sensory inclusive certification in February with 50% of the Woodpeckers front office completing a training through KultureCity, a national nonprofit that advocates for sensory needs. This new initiative will promote an accommodating experience for all guests and fans with a sensory condition.

The Woodpeckers Foundation supplied $1,000 to the initiative, which included the purchase of certification, five sensory bags and one weighted lap pad. Segra Stadium will have sensory bags available for check out at the guest services table behind section 125. Included in every sensory bag are headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards. Fans will also be able to check out a weighted lap pad for use.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over simulation and noise. With its new certification, Segra Stadium is now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.

For more information on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers or the Woodpeckers Foundation, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com. The Woodpeckers open their third season of play in Kannapolis on April 8th and return for their home opener on April 12th against the Salem Red Sox.

Woodpeckers Fund Sponsors ASYMCA’s Deployment Story Time

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The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will sponsor the launch of ASYMCA’s new Deployment Story Time Program. The goal of the program is to provide support to children and military spouses due to the recent deployment of soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg. Included in the program is a read-along story, a free book and a snack and craft related to the theme of the month. The program will run once a month until the end of 2022 and is set to begin in March.

The Woodpeckers Foundation donated $3,300 to the initiative, which includes the funding of snacks, crafts and a take-home copy of each month’s book. Deployment and patriotism will be the main themes for the program while service members are overseas. The Woodpeckers Foundation will also support ASYMCA’s Month of the Military Child Fair at the end of April.

The Woodpeckers Foundation strives to support youth sports and military initiatives. For more information on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers or the Woodpeckers Foundation, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com. The Woodpeckers open their third season of play in Kannapolis on April 8th and return for their home opener on April 12th against the Salem Red Sox.

Woodpeckers Alzheimer’s Jersey Auction Raises $8,051.41 For Charity

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On Saturday, August 7th, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers might have looked unrecognizable, even to the most adoring fans. The Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros traded its signature red, gray and black colors for purple to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. The event, Alzheimer’s Awareness Night, raised $8,051.41 through both an in-person and online auction of the game-worn purple jerseys seen on-field that evening. Proceeds from the jersey auction directly benefitted the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina. The game’s festivities were presented by long-time partner McKee Homes and drew over 4,000 fans to Segra Stadium.

The Woodpeckers, sporting custom purple jerseys with the Alzheimer’s Association logo, beat the Fredericksburg Nationals 6-4. The first 1,200 fans through the gates also received a purple hat. Historically, the color purple has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease because of the combination of the calm stability of blue and the passionate energy of red.

“The fight to end Alzheimer’s has enlisted so many in our local communities,’ says Lisa Roberts, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Here in Fayetteville, longtime partners like McKee Homes and growing relationships like ours with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are shining examples of those in the fight. We tip our hats to these local heroes for not only the grand success of this year’s awareness night, but all they do to support our mission.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with over 6 million Americans currently living with the disease. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit www.alz.org.

Segra Stadium To Host 3rd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

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The 3rd Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 11th at Segra Stadium. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the climb will start at 8:47 a.m.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters, police, and EMS who selflessly gave their lives on that tragic day. Each participant will pay tribute to those brave souls by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS are never forgotten.

Registration fees are $30 per person and include your entry to the climb and a t-shirt. Anyone interested in climbing MUST REGISTER ONLINE by September 8th. We will accept walk-up registration; however, t-shirts cannot be guaranteed for anyone registering day of. Check-in and registration for the event will begin at 7:00 a.m. All proceeds from the stair climb will benefit programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

To register, please visit the Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Facebook page or visit firehero.org and select ‘9/11 stair climbs’ under the events drop down tab.

Segra Stadium To Host Pet Adoption Event April 24

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The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are partnering with local animal rescues and pet vendors to host an adoption event at Segra Stadium on Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This event is free to the public and will coincide with the first opportunity for fans to purchase tickets for May Woodpeckers home games.

While inside the ballpark, fans can meet available dogs and cats from each rescue and fill out an application if interested in adopting. All patrons entering Segra Stadium must fill out a waiver upon entrance. The Woodpeckers will also be collecting items for attending rescues. Anyone who donates an item ($5 value or greater) from the list below will receive 10% off in The Birds’ Nest Team Store. Items being requested are:

• Cleaning Products (Paper towels, disinfectant spray or wipes, etc.)

• Peanut Butter (JIF)

• Canned or Dry Dog & Cat Food

• Dog or Cat Treats

• Puppy Pads

Participating rescues and vendors are Operation Healing Whiskers, Mutts 2 Majesty Rescue, Caring Hearts for Canines, Lending Paws a Hand, Freedom German Shepherd Rescue, Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Riverbark Veterinary Hospital and Pet Retreat, and Naturally Unleashed. Any rescues or vendors interested in participating, please contact the Woodpeckers front office at 910-339-1989 or by emailing us at [email protected].

Pets are not allowed at this event except for dogs and cats with each respective rescue. The Birds’ Nest Team Store will be open and concessions will be available for purchase. Masks are required when entering the ballpark.

The Woodpeckers will release their daily promotions and promotional calendar for the month of May prior to tickets going on sale. The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th against the visiting Kannapolis Cannon Ballers with first pitch at 6:30 p.m.

Segra Stadium to Host 2nd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The 2nd Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 12th at Segra Stadium. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:45 a.m. and the climb will start at approximately 9:15 a.m.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters, police, and EMS who selflessly gave their lives on that tragic day. Each participant will pay tribute to those brave souls by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS are never forgotten.

Registration fees are $30/per person and include your entry to the climb and a t-shirt. Anyone interested in climbing MUST REGISTER ONLINE by September 10th. We will not have walk-up registration this year to limit touch points at the entrance. Check-in for the event will begin at 7:45 a.m. All proceeds from the stair climb will benefit programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

To register, please visit the Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Facebook page HERE.