Chris Ottinger is living with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and taking on Big Climb Dallas to fund blood cancer research and support families. Here’s his why.
Chris Ottinger Is Climbing Big Climb Dallas With CLL
Seventy floors is a lot of stairs for anyone. But for Chris Ottinger, this climb isn’t just a fitness challenge. It’s personal. Chris is living with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), a type of blood cancer, and he’s taking on Big Climb Dallas to help push research forward and support families who are fighting right now.
What makes Chris’s story hit harder is how normal he makes the hard stuff sound. He doesn’t post dramatic updates. He just shows up, even on treatment days, and keeps moving forward.
If you want to support him as he trains and fundraises, you’ll find his page here: Chris’s Big Climb Dallas fundraising page.
Who Chris Ottinger Is
Chris Ottinger is the kind of person you’d probably describe as steady. Not loud. Not attention-seeking. Just consistent. He’s been living with blood cancer for the past couple of years, and instead of letting it quietly take over his life, he’s choosing to do something that gives him purpose.
A normal morning at UT Southwestern
In a short video posted from UT Southwestern, Chris opens with a line that sounds simple… until you realize what it means:
“Good morning, everybody… recording live from UT Southwestern… getting my monthly infusion.”
That’s not a one-time visit. That’s a routine. A regular part of life.
He also shares that he was diagnosed about two and a half years ago, and that the Big Climb is one of the ways he’s choosing to respond to that reality.
The quiet strength behind “monthly infusion” life
A lot of people hear “infusion” and picture something quick and simple.
But infusion days usually mean planning your whole day around treatment, sitting for hours, and then dealing with the after-effects that don’t show up on camera. It’s tiring, and it can mess with your energy, your sleep, and your mood.
Chris doesn’t sugarcoat it, but he also doesn’t let it define him. The message is clear: this is happening, and I’m still here. That’s a big reason Big Climb Dallas fits him so well. It’s not about pretending things are perfect. It’s about choosing to do something meaningful anyway.
If you want to back him directly, this is the donation page Chris is sharing: Chris’s fundraiser.
The Blood Cancer Chris Is Fighting: CLL
Chris is fighting Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
Here’s what that means in normal-people language.
What CLL is (simple explanation)
Your body has white blood cells that help fight infection. One type is called a lymphocyte. In CLL, the body starts making too many abnormal lymphocytes. These cells don’t work the way they should, and over time, they can crowd out healthy cells.
CLL often moves more slowly than other leukemias, which is why some people live with it for years while managing treatment and monitoring.
What treatment can look like over time
CLL care can be a long road. Some people start with regular checkups. Others need medication or infusions to keep the disease under control. That’s why Chris mentioning a monthly infusion matters.
It’s a reminder that blood cancer isn’t always a straight line. It can be ongoing, unpredictable, and mentally heavy.
But Chris is turning that ongoing fight into a reason to support research and resources for others, too.
What Big Climb Dallas Is and Why It Matters
Big Climb Dallas is exactly what it sounds like: a stair-climb event where people take on a major building to raise funds for the blood cancer mission.
And Dallas goes big.
The challenge: 1,300 steps at Bank of America Plaza
The Big Climb Dallas 2026 event takes place at Bank of America Plaza (901 Main St) on March 28, 2026, and it’s promoted as a climb of 1,300 steps.
That’s a serious physical push. Your lungs burn, your legs shake, and you learn quickly that stairs don’t care how motivated you are.
But that’s also why the event is powerful: you feel the challenge in your body, and it connects you to the struggle people feel in real life. Here’s the official event page if you want the full details: Big Climb Dallas event page.
The mission: fuel research and patient support
Big Climb supports the mission of helping people affected by blood cancer while driving research toward better treatments and cures. Blood Cancer United describes Big Climb as a way to “support people with blood cancer” and help push breakthroughs forward.
So every climber is doing two things:
- climbing the stairs
- fundraising for progress
That’s what makes Chris’s participation so meaningful. He isn’t just “supporting a cause.” He’s inside the cause.
Why Chris Chose to Climb
When you’re dealing with a diagnosis like CLL, it’s easy for life to become smaller.
You stop planning too far ahead.
You get tired of explaining things.
You start measuring time differently.
Chris is doing the opposite. He’s choosing something big, public, and hard.
Turning personal struggle into public hope
Chris’s video doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like a real update from someone who wants people to understand what he’s doing and why. He’s not climbing because it’s fun.
He’s climbing to:
- stand up to the disease in his own way
- raise money for families facing blood cancer
- help fund research that improves outcomes
That’s a powerful “why.”
And if you’ve ever watched someone you love go through cancer (or fought it yourself), you already know how important that “why” can be on the hard days.
What donations actually help fund
When people donate through Chris’s page, they’re helping support research and programs tied to the blood cancer mission.
That can mean:
- better treatments in the future
- patient education and support
- stronger resources for families navigating diagnosis and care
If you want to be part of Chris’s climb (without stepping on a single stair), this is the page to do it: Chris’s fundraising page.
How to Support Chris Today
You don’t need a training plan or a stairwell to help.
1) Donate (even a small amount helps)
Go straight to Chris’s fundraisingpage and give what you can.
A $10 donation matters. A $25 donation matters. The goal is momentum.
2) Share his page with one friend
This is the underrated move.
Most fundraising happens because someone shares a link and says, “Hey, this matters to me.”
If you want to help Chris hit his goal, share his page once.
3) Join Big Climb Dallas
If you’re in North Texas and want a challenge with meaning, you can register here: Big Climb Dallas.
A Closer Look at Chris’s Journey
Chris’s reel is short, but it gives an important background in his own voice, including:
- where he’s receiving care (UT Southwestern)
- how often he’s being treated (monthly infusions)
- what he’s fighting (CLL)
- and why this cause matters to him
To hear Chris explain it in his own words, watch his quick reel here: Facebook video
Every step counts
Chris Ottinger’s climb isn’t about stairs. It’s about showing up on the hard days. It’s about turning a personal fight with CLL into something that helps other people, too. And it’s about proving that even when life changes, purpose doesn’t have to disappear.
One donation, one share, one small action… it all adds up. If you want to be part of Chris’s story, the best place to start is right here:
👉 Chris’s Big Climb fundraising page