Firefighter Memorial Stair Climb, Auckland 2010.

11 September 2010, Auckland. Nearly 100 New Zealand Firefighters gathered today to climb all 30 floors of the old BNZ building at 125 Queen Street in Auckland city. This New Zealand Memorial Climb, now in its second year, is to remember all Firefighters both in New Zealand and overseas who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Founder of this climb, Tony Scott from Fireup Events, who is a Firefighter himself at Auckland Airport, is passionate about raising awareness and is responsible for several Firefighter related events. Every day Firefighters all over New Zealand and the world put themselves on the line for others and this is what his events are all about.

The inspiration for a climb here in New Zealand came to Tony whilst attending the funeral of his friend Firefighter Derek Lovell, who tragically died whilst attending a fire in Hamilton in April 2008. The date of the event, September 11 is symbolic, and is a date that is forever imprinted into our minds; it’s the day that 343 American Firefighters lost their lives. That tragedy remains poignant for many in the Fire Service, here and overseas. The memorial stair climb is designed primarily to remember kiwis that have lost their lives, but will also remember those who perished in 9/11.

This year the New Zealand event has been recognised and linked into other memorial climbs from around America being held to remember those who have perished in the line of duty. Being the first to see in a new day, New Zealand kicks this off. The New Zealand Memorial Climb is the first of five Memorial Climbs occurring on September 11th.

Each of the Firefighters, who climb the BNZ stairs, will wear a tally with the details of one of the 56 New Zealanders or one of the 343 New York Firefighters. It will state their name, and their brigade, the New York tallies will have the engine or ladder companies the Firefighters were assigned to, and their names, on the back.

The event starts at 10am outside the (old) BNZ Building on 125 Queen St, with Firefighters assembling to listen and remember the names of the NZ Firefighters who have died, also the engine and ladder companies of the New York Fire Department who lost Firefighters on 9/11, a prayer will follow by Bishop Ross Bay before the Firefighters line up and start the climb.

Fireup Events also, organise the Annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge, this event to date has raised over $530,000 for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (LBF) of New Zealand. The event was a recipient this year of one of the 2010 Prime Ministers Social Hero Awards, organised by the Robin Hood Foundation of New Zealand.

ENDS

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