Firefighters Fired Up For Sky Tower Challenge

Firefighters Fired Up For Sky Tower Challenge

22 May, 2010, Waitakere. Hearing the sirens and seeing the flashing lights of a fire engine is head-turning excitement for kids. But for seven ACG Sunderland students today, the excitement was in helping 435 firefighters in the 2010 Sky Tower Firefighters Challenge, with all proceeds go the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.

The brains, the muscle and the passion behind the Sky Tower Firefighters Challenge is one of our local firefighters, Tony ‘Scottie’ Scott, a parent at ACG Sunderland. “Being a firefighter is all about being there for your community. This is just another way we can use our role in the community to do something positive and make a difference to someone’s life,” says Scottie.

Inspired by competing at a similar event in Seattle, USA, Scottie bought the concept back to New Zealand and has been organising it at Sky City since 2005. The first year 88 firefighters were involved raising $17,000. Last year it grew to 355 firefighters who raised a staggering $150,000.

“This year firefighters from New Zealand, Australia and the USA are participating. We are aiming to break the $200,000 mark.

“It’s fabulous to have the support of ACG Sunderland. The students will serve as runners making sure all the messages get up, down and around the Sky Tower. The Primary School Principal Kent Favel, will be at the top assisting with gear removal,” says Scottie.

“It’s easy to get caught up in your own busy world and forget about others who are struggling through challenging times. Getting our students involved is about teaching them what it means to be part of a community, about helping others. It’s about educating the whole person, not just the academic or the sportsman,” says Kent Favel, principal at ACG Sunderland.

“The atmosphere of this event is remarkable. Some people are doing the challenge for very personal reasons and it can become very emotional. Seeing a firefighter in tears because of the journey of a loved one with leukaemia is a humbling experience. It’s these moments that keep my motivation and inspiration going to do it again the next year, and to keep making it better for the entrants and fundraisers,” says Scottie.

ENDS

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