Eight firefighters from Mid Canterbury have collectively raised more than $13,500 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Taking on the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in Auckland on Saturday were: Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade members Nick Rattray, Ellen Westwood, Geoffrey Barr and Scott Marshall; Methven Volunteer Fire Brigade members Brent Anderson, Mark Brown and Matt Duncan; and Rakaia brigade member Luke Rushton.
The eight climbed more than 9000 steps, helping towards the nationwide total of $1,927,314 raised by 1100 firefighter from 270 brigades.
It was Geoffrey Barr’s second time completing the challenge. His first was last year after a challenge from Methven’s Matt Duncan.
‘‘Crossing the finish line was incredible a lot of emotion and a sense of pride. This is an event a lot of people wish they could participate in and to be able to complete it is a great feeling,’’ Barr said.
There are two sections – the main one with 25kg breathing apparatus sets, and the Man of Steel event with full firefighting gear and even heavier gear.
This year all participants climbed the 51 flights of steps.
Barr and Duncan took part in the Man of Steel.
Last year Barr aimed to complete the Man of Steel climb involving nine more flights of steps than the main section’s 51 flights in 30 minutes. This year he completed the climb in 15 minutes and 58 seconds.
Fellow Ashburton fireys times were: Scott Marshall 15.26, Ellen Westwood 15.37 and Nick Rattray 16.37.
From Methven Duncan completed the Man of Steel in 18 minutes and 35 second, Mark Brown and Brent Anderson took part in the main section with times of 18 minutes and 15 seconds, and 19 minutes and 43 seconds, respectively.
Rakaia’s Luke Rushton rushed up the steps in 16 minutes and 12 seconds.
Despite having taken part last year, this year’s wasn’t any easier for Barr.
‘‘The nerves were still flowing heading down to the bottom of the tower. I needed to remind myself that families and patients with leukaemia are in a much worse spot then I was at the start of the climb, he said.
“I had 15 to 20 minutes of pain where they can have days, months, sometimes lifetimes, of pain.
‘‘This year the chamber (stairwell) was a lot hotter, and I was climbing early, this was noted by every climber especially in the afternoon. There is no ventilation until you reach the top. There is a drinking station on floor 44.
‘‘The support as you are climbing is incredible while most are trying to beat previous times or set a new time you know you have support from fellow climbers. If you are passing or getting passed, we are all cheering and making sure we are ok.’’
Every day, eight Kiwis are diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age.
- Anyone wanting to make a donation can do so at – firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-firefighter-skytower-challenge-2025
