HOLDEN – Quitting smoking is not an easy task, but a Holden woman has accepted a challenge to quit smoking if her 26-year-old daughter will climb 82 flights of stairs.

Kate Ziemer, now a Boston area resident, is taking part in the American Lung Association’s third annual Race Up Boston Place stair climb, and her mother, Deb, is her motivation.

“My mother had smoked cigarettes for 14 years – since she was in college – and then quit in 1990, but with stress and family illness she picked the habit back up in 2004,” said Ziemer. “This all started off as a selfish way for me to stay in shape, but has turned into something better than I could have imagined.”

Ziemer will participate in the Race Up Boston Place stair climb in the Mellon Financial Center, downtown Boston on Saturday, Feb. 2. The climb invites participants to run, walk or race up the 82 flights – 41 floors – as an athletic challenge or as a personal challenge, as Ziemer is doing.

There are currently 185 participants registered to Race Up Boston Place, and with one month left until the event, the American Lung Association hopes to reach 300 climbers.

“We are very excited about this event. Our registration numbers are up, and we are glad to be holding an event that so many athletes find challenging,” said Erin Hickey, event manager. “Many of our participants are climbing for a friend or family member and that makes this event even more impressive. These people are taking action and showing their loved ones how much they care by sweating their way up 82 flights of stairs.”

Ziemer is staying in shape and practicing for her big climb by using a stair climber at the gym and climbing as many real flights of stairs as possible.

“I can’t even express how proud I am of her for taking on this challenge,” said Ziemer’s mother. “I am not sure if she knows how much it means to me, but if this puts even five minutes on her life, I’ll take it. I just cannot imagine what the world would be like without her.”

Information on the Race Up Boston Place stair climb may be found at www.lungma.org or by calling 781-890-4262. Registration is still open and can be done quickly online. Donations also may be made online to help Ziemer or any other participant reach fundraising goals.