SkyRise Chicago Climbs Willis Tower for Rehab Fund
More than 2,000 people climbed the stairs of Willis Tower to support Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's rehabilitation programs.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Stroke
More than 2,000 people climbed roughly 2,149 steps to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower on Sunday, November 8, 2026, for the 18th annual SkyRise Chicago fundraiser. The event supports Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and is expected to generate more than $1 million for the hospital.
Why it matters
The fundraiser supports rehabilitation programs for patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and complex orthopedic injuries. Its scale reflects continued community investment in rehabilitation care at the AbilityLab.
The event drew more than 2,000 climbers who covered roughly 2,149 steps to the 103rd floor, with fundraising expected to exceed $1 million. The final total raised has not yet been reported.
The players
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is a Chicago rehabilitation hospital that provides care for people recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and complex orthopedic injuries.
Stu Fagan
Stu Fagan is an 85-year-old Shirley Ryan AbilityLab patient living with Parkinson's disease who has climbed more than 66 floors in prior years.
Mike Dineen
Mike Dineen is a Chicago Police Department sergeant who received care at the AbilityLab for a traumatic brain injury.
The details
Participants included first-time climbers and returning participants, along with hand cyclists. Patient Stu Fagan, 85, who lives with Parkinson's disease, and Chicago Police Department Sgt. Mike Dineen, who received care at the AbilityLab for a traumatic brain injury, are among those connected to the hospital's work.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: SkyRise Chicago climb held at Willis Tower
Health Landscape
The fundraiser places community funding alongside the rehabilitation work of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a Chicago institution that treats stroke and brain injury survivors. It shows how public fundraising supports specialized rehabilitation care beyond what patients receive in clinical settings alone.
Stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury survivors in the Chicago area rely on rehabilitation programs like those at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to regain function. Donations and events like SkyRise Chicago help fund the programs that support patient recovery.
The takeaway
Community fundraising plays a practical role in sustaining specialized rehabilitation services for stroke and brain injury patients. Readers interested in supporting that work can look for local rehabilitation fundraisers in their own area.
Further reading
Explore more on Stroke coverage and the rehabilitation care it involves.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Internewscast Journal.
