Haymarket 676 Stair Climb

Haymarket Center is a comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse treatment center located in the West Loop. Each year since 1986 Haymarket has held a summer festival thanking the staff and volunteers for the tremendous work they do. Haymarket supplies FREE food, rides, animals, arcades, photographers, etc. to all who come to the Festival (mostly staff, their family members and donors). Alderman Walter Burnett’s office has consistently assisted in blocking off several streets for this fun event.

For the past two years the State and Federal government has cut our substance abuse budget by 68%, leaving us with no choice but to help with the costs of the Festival. Last year we held a stair climbing event where the participant had to climb 676 stairs as many times as he/she could in our three buildings. We had 16 staff members, one District firefighter, two kids and several volunteers as climbers. We raised $1,684.00 in sponsorship donations. This year we hope to triple our climbers and sponsorship.

The money we raised bought a climbing wall and a train which every one went gaga over. The morale of those in attendance was fantastic. We believe this event will get more popular each year. If you would like to sponsor me for $.01 to $.05 (one to five cents) per stair I know I won't let you down as I completed the 676 stairs three times last year.  For a sponsor sheet go to jblackman@hcenter.org and I will send you one!  Thanks so much for caring.

JoAnn Fastoff Blackman

Peace.

JoAnn