My name is Derek Gilbert and I have been a volunteer firefighter since 2006.
It had been a longtime dream of mine to be a paid firefighter and was privileged to serve as the volunteer coordinator and a responding firefighter for the Stayton Fire District for two years through a federal grant to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters while offering line responses.
As I got married and started my family that dream came to an end…with the uncertainty that my position would remain funded I applied and was offered jobs at Portland Fire and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue that were withdrawn when they learned that I have fused vertebrae after breaking my back in college. What seemed at the time like a devastating blow turned out to be a tremendous blessing as it led to my now 9 year profession as a financial advisor with Doneth & Sturdivant Wealth Advisors in Salem while continuing my volunteer fire service with Marion County Fire District #1 where I am the Lieutenant at the Clearlake station.
During my 14 years in the fire service one of the most meaningful components has been my participation in the Seattle Firefighter Stairclimb. Over 2,000 firefighters from around the world come together to climb the 70 floors of the Columbia Center in full fire suppression gear to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have participated now for 11 years and have finished in the top 35 for time 4 times and have raised nearly $45,000 over those years.
What started as a physical challenge for me rapidly evolved when my father David was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2012…from that point forward it became an extremely personal event to not only honor his successful fight against cancer, but to fight for family and friends who have been affected by cancer. After watching the pain and suffering my father went through as well as the emotional struggles our family faced I found the stairclimb to be an amazing outlet to channel anger and frustration for his fight and the struggles so many friends and family face dealing with this terrible disease.
It also became an incredible way to offer support to those going through cancer…I’ve been so proud to carry pictures of those fighting cancer on my helmet to encourage them through their darkest moments and honor those who lost their battle. While it can be a painful and mentally challenging event, it is extremely rewarding to watch my brother and sisters from around the world come together to rally around an organization and a cause that does so much good for those individuals and families affected by cancer!
What is your Why?
It was Derek’s dedication to this climb that inspired me to do the Fight for Air climb on March 6, 2020 in Portland Oregon.
From Derek….
I am deeply saddened to share an update to the previous story about my father David Gilbert. After enjoying nearly eight years of remission from his Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis early in 2012 he lost a courageous battle to a bacterial infection he contracted after an open heart surgery earlier in the month. True to form Dad fought a ferocious battle all the way to the very end and my brother, mother and I were there holding his hand at the very end.
While he will be missed beyond words and was taken far too early despite his many health issues second to his fight with cancer he made the very best of the eight years additional years and as a family we learned a lot of lessons from Dad’s cancer experience. He was able to meet two grandchildren and learn of one on the way shortly before he passing. We developed a different perspective of what is truly important about life and relationships during and after his fight. He was still able to bless a variety of nonprofits, friends and family both financially and through advice as well as council people through significant illness. Most importantly we saw his and Mom’s relationship grow, evolve and become stronger as they walked down his path together.
My participation in the Seattle Firefighter Stairclimb started as a way to help people, then became far more personal after he was diagnosed in 2012 and now will carry on to honor his life and fight. I will be forever grateful that he was able to be waiting for me on the top floor of the Columbia Center as I finished in 2015 and again at this year’s climb as combating blood cancers is a significant cause for both of us. Our family will always miss him but plan on carrying his legacy forward by continuing our fight against cancer as relentlessly as he did!