Pupils lap it up for a good cause
Children from Manawatu¯’s Kairanga School have thrown their support behind the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge, a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Kairanga School held a fundraiser yesterday where children did laps of the school’s 220-metre track. They raised $1103 to signify the 1103 steps firefighters will climb at the challenge in Auckland tomorrow.
For the challenge firefighters have to climb 51 flights of stairs wearing all their gear.
The children, some dressed in firefighters’ equipment, started early running and walking laps and they were supported by parents, staff and firefighters.
The children, also dressed in red, did 22 laps each. Some carried dummies and stretchers.
The school’s deputy principal Finn Barnett said they came up with the idea to support the challenge.
The children raised the money through sponsors and then handed it to Fire and Emergency for the challenge.
Pupil Caitlyn Turner, 10, was taking part in the walk, sporting a firefighter’s helmet, and she said the children were keen to support the cause. ‘‘Onethousand-one-hundred-and-three [laps] would be a lot to do by yourself, but when you’re splitting it into 22 each it wasn’t that bad.’’
Palmerston North senior firefighter Jeremy Dodgewas part of a group of 11 training for the challenge from the station. The group had been training since January, working on a stair machine at Zenith Fitness gym and on stairs at the old FMG building.
‘‘Most of us have got a pretty good base fitness. Out of the 11 doing it five or six have never done it before.’’
They had raised about $5000 themselves and he said it was awesome to have the support of the school.
‘‘We’re lucky to get the support of the kids and give them a bit of an eyeopener and understanding about leukaemia and blood cancer.’’