After a three-year hiatus, the United Way ClimbUP fundraiser is back — along with the CN Tower's oldest stair climber.
On Monday, Walter Decker celebrated his 99th birthday. On Saturday, he plans to climb 1,776 steps to the tower's observation deck — for the third time. This time, he'll be joined by three more generations of family.
Decker first climbed the tower in 2015 at the age of 91. He says he raised $1,600 that year — money that goes toward addressing poverty and housing issues in the Greater Toronto Area. He completed the climb in just over 47 minutes.
"I'm sure it's gonna take a little longer this year," he told CBC Toronto. "I have slowed down for sure."
Despite that, Decker isn't worried. Three times a week, he climbs the Kenilworth Stairs up the Hamilton escarpment. It's a habit he says he picked up more than a decade ago, shortly after his second wife died.
"I was grieving," he said. "I needed a diversion."
Decker says the stairs slowly transformed from emotional support, as he processed his grief, into a personal challenge. He entered his 90s looking beyond the Hamilton escarpment. Like many Ontarians looking for something bigger, he eventually turned to Toronto.
"I wanted the CN Tower," Decker said.
'A personal challenge'
Decker also wanted to raise money for charity. That's where United Way Greater Toronto's ClimbUP campaign came in: climb the tower and help residents meet their basic needs.

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