After Montgomery County Deputy Mark Storzer completed the Montgomery County Stair Climb at around 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Montgomery County High School, his uniform was drenched in sweat as he climbed 110 flights of the football bleachers.

But he was thrilled that he got to participate in the stair climb in honor of the first responders who died on that tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001.

“It feels good,” Storzer said. “I hiked through the woods 20 miles the last two days looking for a missing person. This isn’t near the sacrifice that the men and women on Sept. 11, 2001 made. So this means nothing compared to what they did.”

Thousands of victims – including first responders – were killed in terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City 24 years ago. Storzer was a fifth-grade student when he found out about the news.

“I was kind of an ornery kid,” Storzer said. “I was sitting in the principal’s office. I overheard all of the adults talking and I knew something was wrong. When I got home, my old man educated me on the whole situation and what it meant. I don’t remember much after that. I remember watching it on the news.”

More than 50 people participated in the first annual Stair Climb, which was sponsored by the Montgomery County BackStoppers. Proceeds benefitted the BackStoppers organization, which invited Montgomery County three years ago.

“Any type of support from the BackStoppers is important,” Storzer said. “We had too many of these heroes out here getting hurt and not having the money to support themselves or their families. BackStoppers are important.”

There are 20 steps at the high school bleachers and participants had to run through those steps 110 times, equivalent to the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

Several of the participants wore full gear, including Brendon Hagemeier and Mike Skaggs of the Montgomery Fire Protection District.

“They’re the real heroes,” Storzer said. “They do this job for free. It’s those guys in that gear who are the real heroes.”

Gabrielle Talley, who owns Achieve Fitness in Montgomery City, was the organizer of the Stair Climb. During a two-minute pre-event speech, she suggested to the participants to remember 110 floors of the Twin Towers that collapsed during the terrorist attacks.

“We climb in unity as neighbors, as friends and as a community, showing them that we have not forgotten,” Talley said. “As we remember the heroes of 9/11, we also recognize and support our local fire responders.”

The climb began at 6:37 p.m. The event was split into two groups – a fast group and slow group.

Storzer was in the fast group, which climbed the left part of the bleachers. He said the best part of the climb was climbing upstairs.

“Everytime we make it up, it’s one lap down,” Storzer said. “Then, you got the breeze at the top to reward you.”

Three members in the fast group – Ashley Schreiner and Samantha Czerniewski of Montgomery City and Lacey Lansford of Hermann – completed the stair climb in 75 minutes.

Czerniewski said she was just glad she finished.

“It was tough, but I almost didn’t do it,” she said. “It was last minute. But Gabby talked me into it. My brother is actually a firefighter out in Kansas City, so I thought if he can do it, so can I. Here I am.”

Schreiner, a nurse, wore a 20-pound vest during the event.

“I put on some weight because they (first responders) wear a lot of weight when they’re doing their job,” Schreiner said. “It was hard, but I felt pretty good. I could do a couple of laps around the track.”

Lansford had never heard of a stair climb before she signed up for the event.

“I have a lot of pride for our country,” Lansford said. “I was in the third grade when 9/11 happened and I still remember it very vividly to this day. I thought this was for a really good cause and a good memory. It’s something that I couldn’t make a sacrifice like that, but I can at least do this.”

Ellie Lynch, an 11-year-old from Middletown, completed the event in 90 minutes with no break. So did her mother, Spring. Ellie said her favorite part of the stair climb was when she got finished.

“Because I was tired,” she said.

Storzer took several breaks at the event, but he was still determined to finish all 110 flights.

“There are no quits,” Storzer said. “These guys weren’t quitting. There were no quits for those guys that day (on 9/11) until the very end. It’s not fair for me to quit.”

Storzer has been working with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department for nine years. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Mark, Jr., and grandfather, Mark, Sr.

“They both were in law enforcement for 20 years each,” Storzer said. “I think they always inspired me to do the right thing and be there for people.”