Firefighters gear up to take on Sky Tower challenge
It’s that time of year again for firefighters throughout the Far North who are training hard to take on the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge in May.
Kaikohe firefighter Lara Hastings is set to take on the 1103 step challenge in 25 kg of firefighting kit for the fifth consecutive time.
Six Kiwis are diagnosed with a blood cancer every day with all funds raised from the Sky Tower Stair Challenge going directly to Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Hastings says working at a local medical centre means she has seen a few people with leukaemia.
‘‘You see the struggles of that person and their family members. It can be really hard and you get really attached. You can take those emotions and you try to take it on board with you during the climb.’’
She says seeing people during their hard journey gives her an incentive to continue to take on the challenge.
Hastings will be joined by five other Kaikohe firefighters to make up their team. They will be hosting a fundraising quiz night on April 1 at the Kaikohe RSA.
Joan Natanahira and Zia Yew from the Ahipara Volunteer Fire Brigade will join the Far North contingent as well as Alistair Leitch and Adelene Nes from Kawakawa.
Kerikeri and Paihia Volunteer Fire Brigades will also field teams for the event with 11 and 9 participants respectively.
Kerikeri Station Officer Ben Scott says the team are aiming to beat last year’s fundraising total of $30,558. He says each individual is also trying to beat last year’s time.
‘‘We had such a good time last year and it’s a good cause, we love to challenge ourselves.’’
There will be a fundraising auction on May 6 at the Rocksalt bar in Kerikeri from 7pm. Paihia’s Tanya Bijl says the team’s training is going well, with preparations including climbing the School Rd track in full kit and climbing the Opua stairs.
She says fundraising has focused on days when cruise ships are in the Bay. For her third climb Bijl says she will dedicating it to her late grandfather Joop Schreuder.
Visit firefightersclimb.org.nz to donate