The University of Georgia honored the 23rd anniversary of the World Trade Center 9/11 attacks with an inaugural memorial stair climb in Sanford Stadium.

Starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, over 150 people, made up of UGA Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, Athens-Clarke County fire and police departments, and UGA Police Department members participated in the stair climb. UGA ROTC groups organized this first-ever event.

Following a speech from a survivor of Sept. 11, 2001, participants climbed 120 stairs in the stadium 19 times to honor the 110 stories (22 stairs each) first responders climbed in the World Trade Center during that fateful day.

This was instead of counting the 120 steps back down as its own set. Organizer and UGA ROTC senior Emaleigh Drake felt that wasn’t hard enough.

“The firefighters are already completing this in their gear, so we need to make sure it’s strenuous on us. My stepdad was a fireman in New Jersey during the attacks, so it’s always been something big to me. I always took it to heart,” said Drake.

Organizers hope to host the event again next year, continuing to pay tribute each year to the heroes who gave their lives saving victims during the attacks and made that climb.