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At Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频’s Keystone Board meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the hospital celebrated 17 years of the annual stair-climbing event, SkyRise Chicago. Attendees honored Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频’s longtime relationship with the Willis Tower and Skydeck Chicago, which is located on the skyscraper’s 103rd floor.
Event History & Background
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The first SkyRise Chicago event took place in 2009 at Chicago’s tallest building — the Willis Tower — raising $600,000 and welcoming 1,700 climbers. Today, more than 2,000 climbers and handcyclists from around the globe join the event each November. Further, it has become the highest-earning stair climbing fundraiser in Chicago, raising more than $1 million annually to fuel Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频’s efforts to advance human ability — enabling patients to achieve the best outcomes in their recovery journeys.
Collaboration with the Willis Tower
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Representing the Willis Tower at the Keystone Board meeting were Skydeck Chicago’s Randy Stancik, general manager, and Stefani Buha, operations manager. Both are longtime collaborators who help Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 execute a memorable stair climb each year. Also in attendance were Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 Board of Directors Chair M. Jude Reyes and CEO Pablo Celnik, MD, as well as Derek Daniels, director of adaptive sports and fitness, and Kyle Bisping, clinical manager of the hospital’s Burr Ridge Outpatient & DayRehab Center — both of whom have been instrumental in making SkyRise a success.
Not only does the Willis Tower extend access to Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 for the event; Randy and Stefani’s team also reserve the Skydeck Chicago observational deck to accommodate the stair climb, forgoing four hours of ticket sales and revenue. Additionally, they donate the building’s security personnel, cleaning and maintenance services, extra facility space and equipment — allowing the hospital to put funds raised toward critical programming for patients.
As a result of this longtime relationship, SkyRise Chicago has generated more than $15.75 million to support Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频.
Climber Spotlights
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During the Keystone Board meeting, Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 highlighted SkyRise Chicago participants who shared what the event means to them:
Team Spotlight: The Purple Fire-breathing Lady Bugs
In 2014, Juan and Amber V.’s 4-year-old daughter, Alexi, came to Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 after she was suddenly paralyzed by a rare neurological disorder.
During her therapy as an inpatient, Alexi regained the ability to eat, walk and talk. She loved visiting with the therapy dog and painting pictures in art therapy.
Juan and Amber participated in SkyRise for the first time that year. Ten years later, their 2024 team included 58 climbers who raised more than $15,000, all decked out in Alexi’s favorite color, purple.
Sadly, Alexi passed away in May 2015, but participating annually in SkyRise became her family’s way of celebrating her life while also giving back to others.
“Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 surrounded Alexi with amazing people, providing expert resources and care. After she passed, we decided we would never miss the opportunity to help provide future patients with the same great care,” said Amber.
Individual Spotlight: David R.
In 2022, David experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurologic condition that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Guided by a team of expert therapists at Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频, he started his rehabilitation journey. After more than three months as an inpatient, David transitioned to Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频’s Streeterville DayRehab Center.
David continued making progress — eventually trading his walker for a cane — and participated in outpatient physical therapy and ongoing workouts at the Adaptive Sports & Fitness Center. It’s there that he set his next major goal: completing SkyRise Chicago in 2023.
On the day of the climb, David vowed to reach the top, no matter how long it took him. At floor 70, David’s back and right shoulder ached, and his legs felt weak. He doesn’t remember the final 15 flights, but when he heard shouting and cheering, he knew he was going to make it. David finished in two hours and 37 minutes and “cried like a baby.”
In 2024, David conquered SkyRise again, finishing 17 minutes faster and becoming one of the top individual fundraisers.
“Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频 has been a blessing to me, and I can't say enough about it. I’m a walking testament to what they do,” he said.
Thank you to the Willis Tower team for 17 years of collaboration and for playing an instrumental role in supporting Shirley Ryan 星空传媒视频!
