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Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge sets new records

This year’s Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge was the biggest ever with 550 firefighters from across the climbing to the top of Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower on Saturday May 10 to raise over $471,000 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).

Josh Harrison from Otara Station set a new event record reaching the top of the tower in 8 minutes and 37 seconds. Second place getter Paul Gerritsen from Auckland City Station completed the event in 9 minutes and 5 seconds, while Hamish Doohan from Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade came third with a time of 9 minutes 57.

The fastest woman up the tower was Sandy Hearn from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Melbourne with a time of 14 minutes and 12 seconds. For a full record of race results please visit http://www.firefightersclimb.org.nz .

The firefighters raced up 51 flights - or 1,103 Sky Tower steps - wearing full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus weighing up to 25kg. This year 140 brigades and stations are represented in the stair challenge. There were also 11 international firefighters taking part from Australia and the USA.

In addition to training for the gruelling event the firefighters gave up hundreds of hours of their time, participating in a range of initiatives to reach a new fundraising record of $471,000 for LBC, who support the 6 Kiwis diagnosed with a blood cancer or related condition every day.

The top individual fundraiser was Dave Wills from Silverstream Volunteer Fire Brigade who raised $14,674. The top fundraising award was won by the Auckland Airport Rescue Fire brigade who raised $25,674. They graciously handed over their prize to the brigade that came in second place from Halcombe to honour the fact they had raised $23,542 in a town with a population of under 1,000.

“It has been truly amazing to see all the wonderful effort firefighters from across the country have put in on our behalf, and as we provide a national service the money they have raised will go back into their communities. We are extremely grateful for their support,” says LBC’s Chief Executive Officer, Pru Etcheverry.

The event is sponsored by SKYCITY, Auckland Airport and Tait Communications.

SKYCITY’s General Manager of Group Services Grainne Troute says SKYCITY is proud to continue their partnership with Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

“It’s extremely pleasing to see the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge event grow year on year. We are always blown away by the amount of money brigades raise and the preparation they put in to their training and it’s fantastic to see the Sky Tower put to such great use.

“The increasing support for this event and teams shows that this is an extremely worthy cause, close to the hearts of many communities across New Zealand,” says Grainne Troute.

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Numbers
• 550 firefighters
• 51 flights of stairs in the Firefighters Sky Tower Challenge
• 1,103 individual steps
• 140 participating brigades and stations

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand is the national organisation in New Zealand dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma and related blood conditions.

Every day 6 children and adults in New Zealand are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition. The funds raised go towards the LBC’s Support Services Programme to provide core services – patient support, research, information, advocacy and awareness.

For more information visit www.leukaemia.org.nz

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