When the call goes out, firefighters such as Luke Rushton of Rakaia are there to help. And when the call goes out to take part in Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge, he is there as well.
Next weekend, on May 24, Rushton, of the Rakaia brigade, and others, including teams from Ashburton and Methven brigades, will climb 51 flights of stairs at Sky Tower in Auckland to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
The eight Mid Canterbury firefighters taking part in the challenge will be donning 25kg of firefighting gear, including their helmets and oxygen tanks, to undertake the gruelling 1103 steps up the tower.
Places on the challenge are hotly contested each year.
On Saturday, Rushton and fellow challenge participant, Dunsandel firefighter Luke Bain, fundraised towards their climb with buckets outside Mobil in Rakaia.
Rushton has taken part in more than a dozen challenges. He, like all those competing, has a goal of $1700. As of Tuesday the total raised so far this year sits at almost $1.2 million.
Ashburton Fire Brigade members taking part are team captain Nick Rattray, Ellen Westward, Geoffrey Barr and Scott Marshall. For Methven, it’s captain Brent Anderson, Mark Brown and Matt Duncan.
Rushton said it was a good cause, and one he believed in.
Bain added the physical side was good for fitness.
The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge is now in its 21st consecutive year. It was the brainchild of Tony Scott who has been part of both Northland and Auckland Airport Fire Rescue Service since 1988.
It raised $17,500 in 2005, its first year, and now consistently raises over $1m annually. By 2024, more than $15 million has been raised for blood cancer patients and their families.
The annual event is delivered jointly by LBC and FireUp Events, which is an organisation operated independently by members of the New Zealand firefighter community, solely focused on raising funds for nominated charities such as LBC.
Participants include New Zealand firefighters, as well as international competitors from countries all over the world such as Australia, the United States, Chile, Germany and Croatia. They represent their brigade and are supported by LBC to fundraise throughout preparation for the event.
– Anyone wanting to support firefighters undertaking the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge can make a donation through firefighterschallenge.org.nz
