Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“59. 60. 61,” a group at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township counted out loud Friday, July 26.

As Mark Bernhard neared his goal of doing 70 pull-ups on his 70th birthday, he briefly stopped.

He had hoped to make it the whole way through without any breaks, but following a short pause, the Cranberry Township man climbed back into position to do 15 more, surpassing his goal and completing a total of 76 pull-ups.

Bernhard did the pull-ups Friday as part of the “70 at 70” challenge to complete a personal goal, but also to raise money for a charity, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which aids first responders and military veterans experiencing hardships.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded by Frank Siller after his younger brother, Stephen Gerard Siller, died when responding to the wreckage of the Twin Towers with Brooklyn’s Squad 1 during 9/11. The foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, according to the foundation’s website.

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, helped raise $13,809 for the Tunnel to Towers organization ahead of his attempt to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more after taking a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, thanks the crowd for attending his attempt at doing 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, draws a crowd in his attempt to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, draws a crowd in his attempt to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, draws a crowd in his attempt to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, draws a crowd in his attempt to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, attempts to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mark Bernhard, of Cranberry Township, mentally prepares himself before attempting to do 70 pull-ups on his birthday at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers organization on Friday, July 26. Bernhard managed around 61 pull-ups in one go, and did roughly 15 more pull-ups after a short break. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle