Sen. Mark Kirk climbed more than three dozen flights of stairs in Willis Tower during a fundraising event Sunday, but his staff declined to say when the senator will return to Congress following a major stroke.

Kirk’s climb, his first public appearance since he was stricken nine months ago, was not announced ahead of time, and the senator’s aides did not respond to the Tribune’s questions about the event or his future plans.

Kirk, 53, made it from the 66th floor to the 103rd floor of the building formerly known as Sears Tower while participating in a fundraiser for the Rehabitlitation Institute of Chicago called Skyrise Chicago.

Read more in the Chicago Tribune

image Sears Towers