Man walks 110 flights on stair stepper in honor of firefighters killed on 9/11

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A firefighter on Sunday paid tribute to first responders who were victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on a stair-stepper at a workout center while in full firefighter gear.

Jason Harding asked Lezlie Bauler, the owner of the gym, if he would be allowed to climb 110 sets of stairs at a Tennessee Planet Fitness.

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"I am not one to get emotional, but a few tears were shed," Bauler wrote on Facebook with a photo of Harding fully suited on a stair machine. "Thank you for your services."

Harding, the firefighter in the photo, released this statement, according to WGRZ:

"When I went to the gym this morning at 6am before coming onto shift I was only wanting to honor the fallen heroes and their families on this day 15 years ago. I was not and am still not looking for any self recognition. I have received so many private messages via Facebook from people expressing that support, gratitude and blessings. Many stated my act brought them to tears but little do they know, t heir support did the same for me. I want to thank everyone that shared and commented in response to this post. It it proof that although we seem divided as a country at times, we unite at the most crucial times. As a Public Safety Officer and McGhee Tyson airport officer, I am honored to be a Firefighter, a Police Officer and a Paramedic. I have been in emergency services for the most of my career after college and wouldn't change that for anything. There are memorial stair climbs all across the country today honoring just as I did. I have participated in Nashville's Memorial Stair Climb for the past 4 years. Unable to make it this year I decided to honor anyway."

Cox Media Group