Roca Climbing and Fitness growing adaptive climbing programs

(ABC 6 News) – Every year, Roca Climbing and Fitness in Rochester sets a theme or goal for the business.

This year, the business is looking to improve on making rock climbing more adaptable for everyone.

“We’re trying to get this excitement built here at Roca,” said Event Coordinator at Roca Climbing and Fitness Mason Hawk.

To help with this, Roca has a couple of fundraisers in place.

In March, Roca will be hosting a film festival with all money raised going towards hosting an adaptive climbing course, that will help train staff and community members in adaptive climbing skills.

In addition, climbers will be participating in a fundraising event called the ‘Paradox Mile’ through April, where climbers will raise funds as they work to climb a vertical mile keeping track of their “climbing distance” each time they visit the gym.

The name comes from their incoming partnership with Paradox Sports.

Hawk provides more information on the partnership.

“They’ll come in; they’ll teach us as staff members as well as community members and work with us to develop our adaptive climbing abilities here at Roca.”

Jeremy Schaar owns Roca climbing and fitness along with his wife Karen.

He’s been climbing since 1990 and has been helping with adaptive climbing for more than 20 years.

“To see someone that has lived most of their life in a wheelchair go 20,30,40 feet up in the air, just an experience they have never had is what it’s all about,” Schaar said.

The fundraising goal is $5,000, but the overall goal is to get people more involved, whatever disability they may have.

With the help of these fundraisers, Roca climbing and fitness hopes to have this program up by the end of this upcoming spring.