When military members join forces with the American Lung Association, good things will happen.

This past weekend, the ALA hosted its second annual "Fight for Air Climb" at the Two Union Square Tower in downtown Seattle.

In the middle of the 51-story climb were five airmen from the 5th Air Support Operations Center, or ASOS.

Located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord - Main, the squadron trains with Soldiers in order to provide close air support.

During one of his deployments to Afghanistan, Tech Sgt. Eddie Ramos heard about the climb and decided to check into it when he returned.

"I did a little bit of research," he said. "I like the fact that the military participates in these local events to raise awareness and funds for a good cause."

Joining Ramos for the climb last Sunday morning were Capt. Alexander White, Staff Sgt Doug Kesler, Staff Sgt Darek Gorring and Senior Airman Jordan Nelsen.

Fight for Air Climbs are nationwide fundraising events for the ALA. They usually occur in prominent skyscrapers, stadiums or arenas and involve climbing multiple steps.

Sometimes referred to as a "vertical road race," teams and individual participants use the event to underscore the need to fight lung disease.

The ALA's website (www.lung.org) says that participation in the climbs raises funds needed to provide life saving education, research and advocacy in order to beat lung disease.

For Kesler and Ramos, the climb was personal.

"My grandmother died of lung cancer in April," Kesler said. "Participating in this event means something very important to me."

Ramos agreed.

"My mother died of emphysema," he said. "The climb means a lot to me."

Last Sunday, the ASOS team showed up in style, wearing black shorts, black shirts and black headbands.  Each runner wore their plate carriers, and Ramos carried the unit flag.

According to climb organizers, the event raised about $37,000. The ASOS team raised $1125.  

"The event was amazing," Ramos emailed on the day of the race. "We arrived in stellar fashion, and we completed the climb in about nine minutes."

"I am really proud of this team," Maj. Frank Scolano, the squadron's director of operations, said.  "It shows the commitment to ‘service before self,' one of our core values."

Photo: Tech Sgt. Eddie Ramos, Staff Sgt. Darek Gorring, Capt. Alexander White, SrA Jordan Nelsen and Staff Sgt. Doug Kesler, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, participated in the 2012 “Fight For Air Climb” and raised $1,125 for the American Lung Association.