Participants can register and fundraise either as an individual or as part of a team. Foot participants will have the opportunity to walk, run or jog up the Willis Tower's 2,109 steps. Hand participants will use hand cycles mathematically calibrated to match the resistance and time necessary to ascend the Willis Tower's 103 floors.
More than 2,000 participants from across the globe are expected to participate in SkyRise Chicago. Space is limited in both the stair climb and hand-cycle events, and participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at www.skyrisechicago.org. All participants must be pre-registered by Sunday, November 8. Those who are unable to participate but would like to show their support for SkyRise Chicago and RIC can make a donation at www.SkyRiseChicago.org.
Awards will be given to the fastest overall stair climb and hand-cycle winners and medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd fastest stair climb times -- in both male and female categories -- will be awarded in several different age divisions. All participants will be treated to amazing views from the newly redesigned Skydeck Chicago, featuring The Ledge. In addition to seeing as far as 50 miles on a clear day, The Ledge allows visitors an unobstructed view 1,353 feet straight down. Skydeck Chicago also features numerous interactive and educational museum-quality exhibits highlighting Chicago's sports, architecture, pop culture, history, food, music and people.
RIC is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation services to patients through a continuum of care that includes inpatient, outpatient and day rehabilitation services. The hospital is also home to the Midwest Paralympic Training Center, the training ground for three paralympians who competed in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. People from around the globe choose RIC because of the hospital's expertise in treating a range of conditions, as well as its ability to treat patients of all ages. RIC is also known for their specialized services, including Assistive Technology, Prosthetics and Orthotics and Vocational Rehabilitation, which help individuals lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
For more information on participating in SkyRise Chicago or supporting the event through a donation, please visit www.SkyRiseChicago.org.
About The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is making a difference in the world for people with disabilities. RIC provides world-class care to patients from around the globe for a range of conditions from acute brain and spinal cord injury to chronic arthritis, pain and sports injuries. RIC, founded in 1954, has been designated the "#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991 and attributes its leading standard of care in part to its innovative research and discovery, particularly in the areas of bionic medicine, robotics, neural regeneration, pain care and better outcomes. RIC operates its 165-bed, flagship hospital in downtown Chicago, as well as a network of 30 sites of care located throughout the city and surrounding suburbs that provide additional inpatient care, day rehabilitation and outpatient services. RIC also maintains strategic alliances with leading healthcare providers throughout the state of Illinois and Indiana.
