American Lung Association of Utah

Third Annual Tackle the Tower Attracts Extreme Enthusiast
Contact: BreeAnn Gwilliam
Phone: (801) 484-4456
Email: ssonntag@lungutah.org

SALT LAKE CITY— Most participants in the American Lung Association of Utah’s Tackle the Tower Event hope to climb to the top of the downtown Wells Fargo Building once. But once is not enough for Neil Amonson, an experienced base jumper and self-proclaimed “outdoor enthusiast.” On March 22, Amonson plans to climb to the top floor 33 times. The climb races up 23 floors, 598 steps and 422 feet.

Amonson became interested in the fundraiser to support victims of lung disease, asthma programs, and smoking cessation support, last year when he ran the race after completing a triathlon the same day. He ran up the stairwell three times because he didn’t feel he had pushed himself enough the first time. Each time his finishes were in the top ten.

“I thought, ‘Next year I want to do it a whole bunch of times, plan on it and raise some money,’ ” Amonson said. “It’s a unique event. I liked that it wasn’t a 5k. It was something above and beyond.”

Amonson chose the number 33 because he calculated it would be the same distance as climbing the largest mountain in Utah, King’s Peak, from sea level. The event starts at 8 am and lasts until 12:30 pm when Amonson said he hopes to be done. Amonson will face competition from local fire fighters in full gear, avid fundraisers, and runners throughout the area but will be the only participant to scale the building more than once.

“I think I have the potential to be competitive for the fastest time,” Amonson said. “I think for one of them I am going to go all out. It’s going to be hard but I’ll have to pace myself.”

Participants are required to raise a minimum of $50 for the event. Amonson, as in the climb, hopes to go “above and beyond” that amount and raise a dollar for every stair he climbs. At this rate, he will raise $19, 734.

If you’d like more information about Tackle the Tower, or to schedule an interview with Neil Amonson, contact Stephanie Sonntag at (801) 484-4456 or ssonntag@lungutah.org.