Why I Climb for WWF: Supporting a Cause That Matters to Me

Written by Suzanne Hood, Digital Communications Specialist at RSA
It was a sunny afternoon and nearing the end of the day in the RSA Canada office when I received an email from a colleague asking if I wanted to participate in the CN Tower Climb for WWF. I sat at my desk and stared at her email, fixated on the number 1,776. I remember thinking, “Really!? I’m going to climb 1,776 steps? My legs will surely give out on me long before I reach the top!” To wrap my head around the climb, I started thinking about what 1,776 steps might look like, such as climbing to the top of my apartment building four times in a row or spending 20-30 minutes on the Stairmaster. Not so bad, right?

But then I took a step back and thought about the cause behind the climb. I thought about the work that WWF-Canada does and the reason we’ve partnered with them for the past five years. They’ve been trusted advisors on RSA’s sustainability journey, helping us to better understand the impacts of climate change and what it means to our business. I also thought about the important research projects we’ve partnered on together that are bringing awareness to critical issues such as sustainable shipping in the Arctic and renewable energy. They’re making things better for the environment and the planet. Now that’s something we can all get excited about.
By the end of the working day, I was on board and ready to start training. I decided to face the challenge head on and practice climbing the stairs at my apartment building. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult, but every day that I climbed it got a little bit easier. I even met some new neighbours along the way!
After a month of fundraising and training, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for the climb. I’m looking forward to the challenge and earning my stripes with my colleagues and friends. Regardless of how long it takes to complete and how tiring it may be, I feel really good about the fact that I’m supporting a cause that matters to me, my company and my fellow climbers.
See you at the top (or somewhere along the way)!