Space Needle Climb

I’m raising money for Cancer Research. I’m going to be climbing the Seattle Space Needle.

Early in October, for the first time in history, members of the public are being allowed to climb up the internal emergency stairs that form the spine of the needle, for one special day. All participants agree to raise money for cancer research.

Please consider sponsoring me. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research institute.

I write my blog for free, and have many thousands of readers; if each of you simply donates the equivalent of your next latté, then I will raise thousands of dollars for this great cause. Sure, give more if you can, but even just a couple of dollars will help a great cause. You can make your donation anonymously, or you can share a message about someone you love who has been touched by cancer.

I’m climbing in memory of my late brother and mother; both of whom passed to cancer before their times. My brother was only sixteen years old.

If you’ve enjoyed reading my blog over the years, please considering sending a couple of dollars. This will be my one and only request for sponsorship on this event. Normal blog service will return next week.

You can donate here. Remember, 100% of any donation you make goes directly to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research.

• The needle is 605 feet tall (184m).

• I will be climbing 848 steps from ground level.

• The concrete foundation extends 30 feet below the ground, and the resulting center of mass of the needle is just a few feet above ground level (making it incredibly stable). 467 cement trucks poured the foundation in 12 hours. The foundation weighs 5,850 tons (cf. The needle structure at 3,700 tons).

• The footprint of the foundation is just 120ft x 120ft, restricted by the size of the land lot sold to build the tower on.

• It was built in just 400 days, in time (just) for the 1962 World’s Fair. The last elevator was installed one day before the fair opened! The cost of construction was $4.5 million.

• The needle built itself! The center section (which I will be climbing up), was used as the crane tower to hoist itself up as it went.

• When completed, it was the tallest building West of the Mississippi River.

• The needle sways approx. 1 inch for every 10 mph of wind, and was designed to withstand over 200 mph winds. (At winds over 35 mph, the external elevators slow down to half speed).

• The diameter of the halo at the top is 138 ft.

• The World’s second made rotating restaurant is installed at the top. Originally powered by a 1hp motor it is now powered by a 1½hp motor (I’ll make no comments on the rise of obesity!)

• In 1966 Bill Gates won dinner at the restaurant in a competition hosted by his pastor. He was 11 years old.

For more trivia and facts, check out the official Space Needle Trivia Page.