Firefighters are climbing the Sky Tower for a cause

This Saturday Andrew Murray will climb the 1103 steps of the Sky Tower wearing a full firefighting kit and 25kg breathing apparatus.

He’s one of 950 firefighters taking part in the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge.

Andrew has rallied a team of firefighters from Pirongia Rural Fire to take part in the event which raises money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Joining Andrew are Jodi Reymer, Julia Bearsley, Sarah Pavlovich and Aaron Gilmore.

Andrew says the group has been training for the challenge since December last year — climbing stairs at Fonterra Te Awamutu and the Hakarimata Summit steps in Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia.

“Maintaining this level of fitness really helps with the stamina needed for firefighting,” he says.

“I’m really looking forward to the event and hope I can convince others to take part next year.”

Firefighters from Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade are also taking on Sky Tower stairs this Saturday.

Te Awamutu’s team includes Deane Mark, Danny Smith, Jarrod Spicer, Ngaia Henry, Anna Alexander, Robert Willey and Ian Campbell.

Both brigades have been fundraising for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and together have raised more than $10,000.

The funds raised from the event go back into the firefighters’ communities.

A special squad of nonfirefighters is also competing in the event, including MP Alfred Ngaro and owner of the Skycity Breakers and former NBA player Matt Walsh.

Saturday’s event officially starts at 7.30am with a haka outside Skycity to open the day before competitors take to the stairs until 2pm.

Donate to the Pirongia and Te Awamutu brigades by visiting firefightersclimb.org.nz