You Can Join a 24-Hour Climbing Marathon on the Art Museum Steps for a Good Cause

The PHL24 stair climbing marathon will go to benefit Legacy of Hope, which funds cancer research.


Photograph courtesy CoreFitness.

CoreFitness founder Gina Mancuso says she was inspired by the concept of a dance marathon — you know, where people sway on a dance floor and try to remain upright for 24 hours straight. But in Philly, she knows that the Art Museum steps are sort of the central hub of our fitness world. So then she decided she’d merge the two and create CoreFitness PHL24, a 24-hour stair climbing marathon on the Art Museum steps, sponsored by the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Mancuso envisioned the event as a huge, day-and-night-long party, with two goals. One, to set a world record for the longest continuous stair climbing at an outdoor venue, and two, to benefit a good cause: Legacy of Hope. Mancuso is on the board of this Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which funds the most promising cancer research at four centers around Philly.

“Our scientific review board is working to find the most talented researchers and most promising research, so each dollar donated is really maximized,” says Legacy of Hope founder Mike Rowe.

At CoreFitness PHL24, 100 percent of the donations will go to support Legacy of Hope, which is also working to create a Legacy Endowment Fund to provide financial support to those fighting cancer who may need assistance paying bills and buying food.

CoreFitness PHL24 is currently on the hunt for sponsors, which range from the $5,000 “title sponsor” level to the $250 “community sponsor” level. Individuals can also get involved by signing up to climb. Registration for individuals will be $10 to $25, with off-peak times, like the hours between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., on the cheaper end. Once you’ve paid to join an hour of the event, you can start climbing during your time slot, then continue climbing for as long as you like (there’s no need to pay for additional hours). Mancuso says they will have a prize for whoever sticks it out the longest.

To keep the stair-steppin’ celebration vibes going, there will be music throughout the day and night, and every hour will be themed. Ranging from the fun and silly (costumes, milk and cookies, an 80s dance party) to the more serious (a cancer-survivor hour, a candlelight vigil), these themes will allow you to choose your own adventure during the climbing marathon.

CoreFitness PHL24 is scheduled for 3 p.m. on September 20 through 3 p.m. on September 21. Interested sponsors can contact Gina Mancuso, and individuals can register either as a team or as solo runner right here. Keep an eye on CoreFitness and Legacy of Hope’s websites for more info.

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