Photos: Rockford Hero Climb 2025 at Swanson Stadium

September 7, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Photo Gallery, Rock River Current, 815 News, Rockford, Trending
Maria Starnes gets a high five on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, as she completes the Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Photos by Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Dozens of people climbed 110 flights of stairs on Sunday at Guilford High School’s Swanson Stadium in a symbolic endurance challenge to honor first responders who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The annual Hero Climb is now in its fourth year. It’s put on by Mid-West Family Broadcasting stations 95.3 The Bull, B103, 100 FM and 104.9 The X in partnership with multiple sponsors. It raises money for The Greg Lindmark Foundation.

Here’s a look at images from this year’s event:

Rockford firefighter Courtney Standridge climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emery Blanchard, 9, carries the flag to the top step of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Alyssa Baker, trailed by husband Tim Baker, gets pumped up to the music on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, as she completes the Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mike Thomason of 425 Manufacturing, wearing a weighted vest, leads a pack of participants on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, up the stairs of Swanson Stadium for the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Julie Cline turns the corner on the Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical lane of stairs for the fastest runners on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sycamore firefighter Keeley Meyer carries the flag up the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Tim Baker, left, and other participants climb the stairs of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Rory Blanchard carries an American flag inscribed with the names of fallen New York firefighters on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Rory Blanchard carries an American flag inscribed with the names of fallen New York firefighters on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Competitors turn the corner on the Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical lane of stairs for the fastest runners on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rich Wolter of Buccifero Family McDonald’s greets people on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, before the start of the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Lenny Nelson salutes during the national anthem on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, before the start of the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Courtney Standridge carries the flag up the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ivy Woody selects a lanyard with the name of a fallen 9/11 first responder on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Grimace gets a Fire Department Coffee helmet placed on his head on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, before the start of the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Participants in the 2025 Hero Climb gather for a photo on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The 2025 Hero Climb benefits The Greg Lindmark Foundation on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Win-Bur-Sew Fire Department Deputy Chief Andrew Schultz straps on an oxygen tank to carry during the Hero Climb on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People grab water from the Members Alliance Credit Union booth on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, before the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kirkland firefighter Dylan Johnson gets a high five as he completes the annual Hero Climb on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Christopher Bowlds and Maria Starnes dance their way up the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kenya Garcia wears a weighted vest while she climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emery, 9, and Rory Blanchard start the Hero Climb on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Firefighters climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Team members from Buccifero Family McDonald’s on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ivy Woody and other participants climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Participants climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sycamore firefighter Keeley Meyer carries the flag up the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Participants climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Firefighters climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rory and Emery Blanchard warm up on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, for the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Firefighters climb the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Hillsdale firefighter climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emery Blanchard, 9, carries the flag to the top step of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Courtney Standridge smiles as she climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Alyssa Baker jams to the music as she climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Rory Blanchard carries an American flag inscribed with the names of fallen New York firefighters on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the annual Hero Climb at Swanson Stadium in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A firefighter climbs the steps of Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emery Blanchard, 9, carries the flag at Swanson Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, during the Hero Climb in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This photo gallery is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas