The previous record was held by Lynna Taubman, a 50-year-old fitness trainer from Kingston, Australia, who climbed 108,887 steps in September 2024.

Helkat Jaffer sets a Guinness World Record by climbing 111,285 steps on a StairMaster in 24 hours.

Jaffer began his challenge at noon on 30/8 at the GoodLife Fitness in Orleans where he works. A medical team was present throughout the attempt, and dozens of people came to offer support. Despite breaking the record with 30 minutes to spare, Jaffer continued climbing to increase his final total.

Climbing 111,285 steps on a StairMaster is equivalent to ascending the CN Tower 62 times in a single day—a nearly impossible feat of endurance.

The 553-meter CN Tower, a Toronto landmark and a symbol of Canada, has 1,776 steps and is often the site of fundraising stair climbs.

"In the final minutes, I just kept thinking: there’s still time, and I can’t let these people down," Jaffer told CTV News after setting the record. "They kept me going."

Remarkably, Jaffer undertook this challenge after tearing his Achilles tendon last year, an injury that often sidelines athletes for extended periods.

For Jaffer, the challenge was both a return to fitness and a way to give back to the community. The entire event was a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGC), of which Jaffer was once a member. As of 3/9, he has raised 5,000 USD.

"Every 365 USD donated provides a week of meals for a youth," Jaffer wrote on Instagram. He also pledged to gift his book, The Power of Movement, to anyone who donates 36.5 USD or more.

Adam Joiner, CEO of BGC Ottawa, stated, "What Helkat is doing embodies the spirit of BGC. More importantly, he was one of our members, and now he’s giving back to the community."

Hong Duy (Canadian Running Magazine)