September 11, 2001 was a day no American will ever forget.

Thousands of victims – including first responders – were killed in terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City. There were also terrorist attacks at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in Shanksville, Pa.

On the 24th anniversary of that tragic day, the Montgomery County BackStoppers group is honoring the courage and sacrifice of the first responders by holding a stair climb at the bleachers of Jim Blacklock Field at Montgomery County High School. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, and all participants will climb 110 ascents of the bleachers, equivalent to the 110 stories of the Twin Towers.

Gabrielle Talley, who owns Achieve Fitness at Montgomery City, is the event’s organizer. She said she had to get permission from the high school to hold the event at the football field.

“I do these solo every year and I had been wanting to go to an in-person one really bad,” Talley said. “I see other organizations put on these stair climbs. I think it’s such an emotional event when they put it on because you are climbing with some firefighters in gear. The emotional impact that brings with it is really beautiful.”

Proceeds of the stair climb event will benefit the Montgomery County BackStoppers, which held a kickball tournament fundraiser on Sept. 6 in New Florence. Talley said organization of the event began in August.

“It’s been a very quick turnaround,” she said.

Talley did her stair climb challenge on a Stairmaster yearly on 9-11 at Achieve Fitness. She has been the owner at the gym since 2015.

“On a Stairmaster, it takes me 45 minutes to complete it,” Talley said. “I typically carry 30 pounds on my back while I’m doing it.”

Talley said she reached out to some area first responders about putting together a stair climb fundraiser. She is a friend of some of the members at the Montgomery Area Fire Protection District.

“So I reached out and I said, ‘Man, I would really like to do a fundraiser for our volunteer fire fighters.’ They said the best way to support them is to actually support the Montgomery County BackStoppers,” Talley said. “They gave me a description on who the Montgomery County BackStoppers were and educated me on what the BackStoppers do for our local first responders and how they support them.”

Based in St. Louis, the BackStoppers were founded in 1959 and have helped over 180 families since then. In 2022, Montgomery County was invited to join the BackStoppers organization, which has helped plenty of families of first responders such as police officers, firefighters and EMS workers.

Registration is still open, but participants will not guarantee a T-shirt as the registration deadline for a T-shirt was on Sept. 1. Participants will receive lanyards that will include pictures of fallen first responders.

Talley said 50 people have signed up for the event. There will be some area volunteer firefighters who will be participating.

“I believe it’s going to have an emotional impact,” Talley said. “It’s something that I really wanted to take part in. I wanted to bring it to our community. I really wanted to do something that would support our community. What better way than those who volunteer to take care of us.”

There are 20 steps at the high school bleachers and participants have to run through those steps 110 times. Talley said she encourages participants to bring water.

“It’s a personal challenge and it’s also out of remembrance,” Talley said. “Have a buddy with you while you’re doing it, just take your time to push yourself and remember why we’re doing it.”