Greenlawn Resident To Ascend 86 Floors For A Cause

Greenlawn resident, Michelle Nickerson, training for her ascension up the 86 floors of the Empire State Building.  Photos courtesy of Michelle Nickerson

By Haley Pereyo
info@longislandergroup.com

Michelle Nickerson, of Greenlawn, plans to ascend 1,576 steps, or 86 floors, of the Empire State Building in honor of the Challenged Athletes Foundation on Feb. 7.

Nickerson said she made a goal a little over a year ago to get fit, and found tower-climbing to be a physical test.

“Climbing stairs is a natural act that we do every day, but when you run up the stairs that is a whole different challenge on our bodies,” she said. “Plus, I am a mother of two teenagers and want to set a good example for them on exercise, fitness and healthy eating.”

Nickerson will be pushing herself in this challenge, but she will not be doing it alone. She will run with other members of Team Challenged Athletes Foundation, an organization with a goal of helping those living with disabilities live a healthy and active life.

“Reading these athletes’ stories on how they have overcome their disability, challenging themselves to push harder, I found very inspiring,” Nickerson said. “They have so much drive and determination that inspired me to want to challenge myself for them.”

Inspired by those athletes and their work ethic, Nickserson said she’s been waking up at 5 a.m. to work out and train, a process she doesn’t even think twice about anymore. It’s “my new normal,” she said.

Nickerson does constant cardio, jumps on the Stairmaster, weight trains and even plays soccer two to three times a week.

She can also be seen climbing the stairwells of the Huntington train station parking garage, getting a taste for the thousands of steps she plans to ascend in just a few weeks.

“My journey has been one that has become a new way of life for me, but has also led to a much more positive outlook on life and weight loss,” Nickerson said, adding that she previously had a bout with thyroid cancer, which made weight loss difficult for her.

But nothing is going to stand her way of climbing those 86 flights, she said.

Nickerson added that she plans to do other tower climbs throughout the year, and even internationally in 2019. Follow her journey at Live2climbup.com.