Firefighter climbs stair machine to honor 9/11 first responders

A photo snapped by a Planet Fitness employee in Tennessee has quickly gone viral on Facebook, and with good reason.

Lezlie Bauler, who works at Planet Fitness, said a firefighter walked into her gym on Sept. 11 and asked if he could climb 110 sets of stairs, fully suited. The firefighter, Jason Harding, told Bauler he wanted to climb in honor of the first responders killed in the 9/11 terror attacks.

"I am not one to get emotional, but a few tears were shed," Bauler said in a Sept. 11 Facebook post. "Thank you for your services."

That post has received more than 60,000 shares.

Lezlie Bauler - This man asked if it was okay for him to... | Facebook

Harding said in a statement that he was unable to attend Nashville's annual Memorial Stair Climb, so he decided to climb the stairs on his own.

"When I went to the gym this morning at 6 a.m. before coming onto shift I was only wanting to honor the fallen heroes and their families on this day 15-years-ago," he said.

Harding said he was brought to tears by the words of encouragement from people around the country.

"Many stated my act brought them to tears but little do they know, their support did the same for me," he said. "I want to thank everyone that shared and commented in response to this post. It it proof that although we seem divided as a country at times, we unite at the most crucial times. As a Public Safety Officer and McGhee Tyson airport officer, I am honored to be a Firefighter, a Police Officer and a Paramedic. I have been in emergency services for the most of my career after college and wouldn't change that for anything."