About Climb to the Top MS
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How it Works
Climb to the Top: Coast to Coast is back with new ways to climb, connect and challenge yourself like never before.
Through weekly Trifecta Training Challenges leading up to event day, you’ll climb the equivalent of each of the iconic buildings in the Climb to the Top series and earn exclusive badges along the way.
Event Day
On event day, we’ll motivate you with a kickoff video before you set out to tackle 75 vertical flights to your own personal summit in celebration of the Society’s 75 years of progress toward a cure for MS. Take on the stairs in your apartment, a steep hiking trail or the stair climber at your gym—this is your personal summit so think big and steep! Get those thighs burning!
Once you’ve reached your goal, we’ll send you a full immersive experience with views from the top of summits fellow Climb to the Top participants have reached coast to coast. Plus, you’ll earn an exclusive finisher badge to share with your networks along with your photos using #climbMS.
You Need the App!
The only way to participate in the Trifecta Training Challenges and on event day is through the app. So, download it now and you’ll be ready to go! The app keeps track of how far you’ve climbed (or walked— remember, we’re on the honor system here!) and gives you badges for completing each challenge* and your epic 75 vertical flight personal summit on event day. Plus, we have an awesome photo booth in there you can start using right away!
*activity tracking and challenges kick off in late August
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Incentives
- Register and raise at least $1 by July 18 to earn a Climb to the Top notebook and pen.
- Raise $250 to earn an event T-shirt and medal (can qualify through October 31, 2021).
- Reach this amount by September 1 to have these items sent to you before the event. Post those selfies in style.
- Raise $300 by August 22 to earn a Climb to the Top baseball hat.
- Raise $1,000 to earn a Top Fundraiser long-sleeved tech shirt (can qualify through October 31, 2021).
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Trifecta Training Challenges
Are you ready for a challenge?
Whether you choose to climb to the top of a mountain or the jungle gym at your local park, our Trifecta Training Challenges will motivate you to tackle your personal goals as we unite in our mission to end MS forever! Each week you will be challenged to increase the number of stairs you climb, tackle a new building, earn fun badges, aim for the top of the leaderboard and share the views of your personal summit along the way.
My Climb, My Summit
Every week starting 3 weeks before event day, you’ll have the opportunity to climb the equivalent number of steps of each of the buildings in the Climb to the Top series. Snap a selfie at your personal peak and share it with your network using #climbMS.
How to participate:
Step 1
Download the Climb to the Top app where you can track your stairs climbed and earn badges, strive for the top of the leaderboard and fundraise on the go!
Step 2
Climb the total number of stairs in each challenge. You’ll earn exclusive badges in the app for every challenge you complete. Remember, the challenges are cumulative, so the more stairs you climb, the more badges you’ll earn.
Step 3
Share photos of you at your personal summit using #climbMS. We want to see your view!
It doesn’t matter if you follow along each week or complete all the challenges at once! Check out the leaderboard to see where you stand.
Challenge 1
Our first Trifecta Training Challenge comes from Matthew Nesci who lives with MS.
Hey, hey! Are you ready to Climb? Matt Nesci here from Rochester, NY. This is my second year participating in Climb MS and I have been living with MS for the last 15 years. I appreciate the MS Society because of all the support, funding and research they infuse into the community. We can do this!
For the first Trifecta Training Challenge, you’ll be climbing the equivalent of New York City’s One Bryant Park. I challenge you to set your summit goals and climb 51 flights; that’s 1,138 stairs or only 163 stairs a day for a week. You got this!”Kick off your badge collection and qualify for the first Trifecta Training Challenge badge by climbing the total number of stairs to the top of One Bryant Park! And don’t forget to share your photos with us using #climbMS.
Challenge 2
Take it one step at a time! MS doesn’t stop and neither will we!
The Trifecta Training Challenge continues and Maddie Butz is unlocking our second challenge.
Hey, y’all, Maddie Butz here from the San Francisco Bay Area! As a National MS Society staff member, working on and participating in Climb MS over the last two years has been beyond fun and rewarding—especially getting to know all our Climbers! The MS Society is an incredibly special place to me because we accept and serve everyone who comes to us affected by MS and there are so many ways for supporters to give back to this incredibly important cause!
For the second Trifecta Training Challenge, you’ll be climbing the equivalent of the Salesforce Tower in the beautiful city of San Francisco. I challenge you to set your summit goals and climb 61 flights; that’s 1,762 stairs or 252 stairs a day for a week if you break it down.”For the first challenge, you climbed a total of 1,138 stairs to the top of One Bryant Park. Now add on 1,762 stairs to climb the equivalent of the Salesforce Tower and unlock the next badge for climbing a total of 2,900 stairs. Make sure you show us where you climbed using #climbMS.
Challenge 3
You’ll get your stairs in this week for sure!
I’m Josh French from Team Arlene! I started participating in Climb to the Top six years ago in support of my mother who has joined me on the climb for the last four years. One step in front of the other and you’ll make it to the top!
For the final pre-event Trifecta Training Challenge, you’ll be climbing the equivalent of 200 Clarendon Tower in the vibrant city of Boston. I challenge you to set your summit goals and climb 62 flights or 1,824 stairs. Climb to the Top: Coast to Coast is next week so amp up your training—to hit 62 flights you’ll need to tackle 262 stairs a day for 7 days. Totally doable!”Climb an additional 1,824 stairs to take you to the top of 200 Clarendon Tower in Boston for your third and final pre-event challenge. Get to the top and you’ll be adding a third badge for climbing a grand total of 4,724 stairs! Show us the view from the top of your climb using #climbMS.
Event Day
Hey Climb MS Community! My name is Kym, I live with MS and I’m so excited for this year’s event.
75 years ago, a movement began that changed the world for people affected by MS. Together, we have transformed what it means to live with MS and we won’t stop until we have a cure for every person living with this disease. Today is your climb and your chance to show the world that no one faces MS alone, and to celebrate the past 75 years of progress, we want to see your view from the top. No matter how high you climb today, we will all be climbing together!
For our Climb MS community, there is no limit to how high we’ll go. That’s why today we challenge you to climb the equivalent of 75 flights, that’s a whopping 2,021 stairs!”Take on the stairs in your apartment, a steep hiking trail or the stair climber at your gym—this is your personals summit so think big and steep!
We’ll motivate you with a kickoff video before you set out and send you a full immersive experience with views from the top of summit Climb to the Top participants have reached coast to coast once you finish. Plus, you’ll earn an exclusive finisher badge to share with your networks along with your photos using #climbMS.
Now let’s get out and Climb to the Top together!
Leaderboard
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Sponsors
Thank You to Our Sponsors
By investing in Climb to the Top MS our corporate sponsors proudly demonstrate their commitment to the local community and to people affected by MS. Supporting Climb to the Top inspires employees, increases corporate visibility, and allows companies to have a direct impact on the communities that they work and live in.
Our corporate sponsors are changing the world for people affected by MS. By supporting Climb to the Top MS through cash or in-kind donations, corporate sponsors allow us to direct more dollars to help all individuals affected by MS.
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Training & Prep
Getting Started
- We wouldn’t ask you to climb the equivalent of 75 flights of stairs (2,021 steps!) if we weren’t prepared to help you do it! Participants should know that climbing 75 flights is equivalent to running a 5k (3.1 miles). However, it should take less time to climb the stairs than it would to complete a 5k. Experienced athletes who’ve completed a 5k should be able to complete the climb without extensive climbing practice.
- Before you start any type of training for Climb, be sure you are well hydrated, are wearing good running shoes, and that you have adequately warmed up and stretched.
Training Ideas
- The most efficient way to train for a climb is to run/walk actual stairs. Take the stairs to your office instead of the elevator. Ask your apartment building for permission to use the stairwell to train or to do climb repetitions on several shorter flights of stairs. If the gym is your only option, rotate your workouts between the treadmill and the stair climber.
- Everyone is different, so try a few different workout options and see what works best for you. Make sure you pace yourself the first time out; stair climbing uses different muscles than running and you might find yourself extremely sore the next day if you don’t ease yourself into training!
- Try climbing 8-12 flights of stairs, two steps at a time at full speed then rest/walk for 3-4 minutes (during your rest time be sure to keep moving). Depending on your athletic ability do this for 4-10 sets. Once you’ve completed your sets, be sure to cool down for 10 minutes and stretch for an additional 10 minutes.
- Always consult a physician before participating in strenuous exercise. If you become short of breath or are fatigued during training, stop and rest.
Pre-Climb Events
Check out our September 13th team captain meetup recording for event information and helpful tips.