Three Ohio State Alumni Athletes Partner with American Lung Association for Their Fight for Air Climb 2013

COLUMBUS OH (01/23/2013)(readMedia)-- Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.

Once a competitor, always a competitor.

Former Buckeye athletes will compete in an amazing competition, labeled BEAT THE BUCKEYE, as part of the American Lung Association's 2013 Fight For Air Climb. The competition, will feature three amazing Buckeye greats: Raymont Harris, former running back, and 6th leading rusher of all time; Beth Howe, women's basketball star, from 2001-05 and Big Ten champ; Ally Vernon, top lacrosse player, in 2005. Harris is also playing the role of Honorary Chairperson.

The American Lung Association is fighting for air, and they're looking for enthusiastic climbers to join them for the third annual 2013 Fight for Air Climb to be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Rhodes Tower in downtown Columbus.

Participants in the Fight for Air Climb will challenge themselves to race up 40 flights of stairs (880 steps) while raising awareness and money to fight against lung disease and support lung health research, education and advocacy in Central Ohio.

The Beat the Buckeye competition consists of Harris, Howe and Vernon executing the climb first. Their times will be kept hidden, but can be challenged by ANY climber for an extra $10. Each Beat the Buckeye participant will receive a ticket and will be entered into a drawing, for a great prize! Those who succeed in beating the Buckeye will also receive a prize!

Harris completed the climb last year with a time around 6:30 minutes. He stated, "I did the climb last year and was surprised how challenging it was. I consider myself in good shape and it took me a long time to recover after finishing."

Climbers can still register, through January 30th, at Midnight, by going to www.Columbusclimb.org. There is a registration fee of $35 and participants must raise a minimum of an additional $100 to climb. Participants are encouraged to form teams, and fundraise together.

Making sure people know what's needed to take control of these lung diseases is one of the American Lung Association's top priorities. 35 million Americans are living with chronic lung diseases such as asthma, lung cancer and COPD. Lung cancer is America's #1 cancer killer.