GLAS DUILLE PHOTOGRAPHY
▼ SHE'RO, Continued from Page 12
Beth Schechter reaches the 51st floor.
14 | northsidewoman.com | may2014
trigger an attack. Aaron’s asthma led to pneumonia six times during the past eight months, landing him in the hospital at least once a month between November and March. Aaron also has Asperger syndrome, making hospital stays even more challenging as he does not like to be touched. The strain is felt on the whole family. While Aaron may have the asthma, Beth said Alex is also dramatically affected. “He feels for his twin and is always worried if and when Aaron will have a flare and if he does, will he stay in the hospital,” she said. After watching Aaron suffer from a particularly bad bout of asthma last November, Alex decided he was tired of feeling helpless. He came to his mother with a determined look on his face. “I want to do something to help Aaron,” he said. “What can we do?” With Beth’s help, Alex researched options online and settled on the Fight for Air Climb, a “vertical road race” sponsored in 65 cities across the country by the American Lung Association (ALA) in which teams and individual climbers raise awareness and funds for important lung disease research and ALA programs. This is the eighth year the vertical challenge has been held in downtown Atlanta, attracting hundreds of participants from across the state. The race is separated into two categories – a general participation event focused on healthy lifestyles and fitness; and teams of firefighters and police officers who make the climb in full gear. Ready to take on the challenge, Beth and Alex formed a team – recruiting Beth’s husband, a cousin and a friend – then began fundraising and physical training. With no 50-story buildings in Alpharetta in which to practice, Beth climbed the steps at Newtown Park 50 times, used the stair master at the gym and did squats at home to strengthen her legs.
Aaron Bedlitz
suffers from se
vere uncontrolle
d asthma
Alex worked on the elliptical machine at home, and climbed up and down on the curb with his buddies in the cul-de-sac. Aaron followed along, taking breaks as needed. The training paid off on the day of the climb, when Beth and Alex both made it all the way to the top of One Ninety One Peachtree Tower – all 1,200 steps – in less than 25 minutes. “We could have been faster, but we stopped for water twice, for bathroom breaks twice, and once to help a woman on the 14th floor who seemed a bit dizzy,” said Beth. “Alex didn’t even seem tired afterward and was running around that night, playing. “Both of my boys are brave fighters in their own way,” she continued. “We always try to maintain a positive outlook with Aaron, such as ‘You have asthma, it doesn’t have you.’ When we need to stay in the hospital, I always tell him at least we get to go home. And Alex has a big heart and has always been good about giving back to others. I spend a lot of time with Aaron due to his health issues, so the climb was something I could do with just Alex – it was our thing.” ■