Excitement Ignites at Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge

MEDIA RELEASE
05 May 2011

Excitement Ignites as Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge Intensifies

On Saturday 21 May, New Zealand firefighters will race to the top of Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower. A record number of firefighters and brigades have registered to participate in this cardio challenge to raise funds for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation (LBF).

Now in its eighth year, the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge is a New Zealand tradition. The event attracts hundreds of firefighters from around New Zealand and overseas who race to the top for the chance to claim fastest man, fastest woman and fastest team.

This year’s event has firefighters representing 121 brigades and stations, with one representative from Australia and one from the United States participating compared to the 2010 event which saw firefighters representing over 100 New Zealand brigades.

The firefighters will race up 51 flights - or 1,103 Sky Tower steps - wearing full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus weighing up to 25kg. In addition to the physical test, the competition is just as fierce for the spot of top fundraisers. In 2010 Paihia’s Volunteer Fire Brigade seized the fundraising trophy for the fifth consecutive year raising $24,000, and contributing to the record $200,000 raised for the LBF.

Auckland Airport Rescue Fire raised an outstanding $20,000 for the foundation. Five brigades raised over $5,000 each including: Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade, Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade, Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade, Waipawa Volunteer Fire Brigade and Beachlands Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Also participating in the event is SKYCITY Chief Information Officer, Mike Clarke, who is taking on the challenge for a second time and says: “SKYCITY loves to be able to use the Sky Tower for such worthwhile events and to get behind charities like the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation. It was a real privilege to get in there with the guys both doing the run and raising funds last year and I’m excited to be taking it on again for a second time. I’m counting the days!”

Throwing his helmet in for the first time is Auckland Airport Strategic Communications Advisor, Andrew Pirie who says: “This is a fantastic fundraiser for a great cause. Auckland Airport has been a key sponsor of this event for several years and we are delighted to help with the fundraising efforts for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation.

“It’s always great to see our Airport firefighters getting involved; so having the opportunity to support this event is a real highlight for them. I’m excited about the challenge and looking forward to it!”

Pru Etcheverry, Executive Director of the LBF, says: “The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge has grown year on year and is a truly wonderful event.

“We are so thankful for the firefighters’ tremendous generosity. New Zealanders turn to firefighters in our time of need. Their level of community engagement on our behalf is truly humbling and we are grateful for their fighting spirit, time and again, to support people who they have never met.

“Thanks to their continued participation in this event we can be there for the 6 New Zealanders who are diagnosed everyday with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition.”

The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge is kindly sponsored by: SKYCITY, Auckland Airport and Otakiri Springs.

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The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge
DATE: Saturday 21 May 2011
Venue: Sky Tower, SKYCITY, Federal Street, Auckland Central
• 440 firefighters
• 51 flights of stairs in the Firefighters Sky Tower Challenge
• 1,103 individual steps
• 121 participating brigades and stations

The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation
The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation (LBF) 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 LBF’s Support Services Programme to provide core services – patient support, research, information, advocacy and awareness.

In the 2010 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge the fastest man, Paul Gerritsen, from Remuera Station, finished in record time at 9 minutes 35 seconds edging out the previous year’s winner by few seconds (9.40). Firefighter Erin Gray from the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade was fastest woman at 13 minutes 28 seconds, beating the 2009 time of 14.11.

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