Up for challenge

Eleven Horsham firefighters will use personal experiences to help spur them up 28 floors of stairs while wearing 25 kilograms of equipment.

Horsham Fire Brigade captain John St Clair said about 650 firefighters from across the world would don full turnout gear and breathing apparatus to reach the top of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Hotel.

Participants of the Melbourne Firefighters Stair Climb, on September 1, will aim to raise $700,000 for Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute.

The organisations will use the money to improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, particularly for emergency service and defence workers.

Statistics show 10 percent of emergency service workers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Three million Australians are living with depression and anxiety, while suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44.

Mr St Clair said Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute were important organisations and he would like to see more awareness of mental health issues.

“Most of us participating in the stair climb have either suffered from it or have someone in our family who has,” he said.

“My brother, a returned soldier, committed suicide last year. He is my driving force to complete the climb this year.”

Mr St Clair said the Horsham brigade had supported the stair climb since its inception.

“One of our members attended it when it first started about four years ago,” he said.

“It’s grown each year within the Horsham brigade and we usually have between eight and 11 members participate.”

Members are completing their own fitness training, including walking, running and stair climbs around Horsham.

“There’s no competition to get to the top, it’s more about the team and making sure everyone gets up there,” Mr St Clair said.

He said people could visit https://www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/horsham/ to donate.

“We’re fundraising towards a good cause, so if anyone wants to contribute, that would be much appreciated,” he said.