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Firefighters from Manly, Puhoi and Silverdale will once again take on the gruelling Sky Tower Stair Challenge on May 24, raising vital funds for blood cancer research.
Climbing Auckland’s Sky Tower in full firefighting kit, including a helmet, oxygen cylinder, mask, boots and gear weighing around 25kg brings extra heat to the challenge, which attracts international competitors including from Australia, the United States, Chile, Germany and Croatia.
This year, 21 Hibiscus Coast representatives will take part, with Manly Fire Station fielding a team of 10, led by team captain Dave Nyman. Joining him are Russell White, Jarrod Oberto, Nick Peliakani, Shawn Gartland, Shanali Walter-Ros, Janette Baird, Ben Burnett, and rookie climbers Chantelle White and Jo Lea.
Chantelle, an early childhood teacher and firefighter, will climb alongside her husband Russell. The pair have been training with their two daughters, and Chantelle’s goal is to reach the top in under 30 minutes.
“It will be such a personal achievement to say I’ve climbed the Sky Tower, and a challenge for me as this is out of my comfort zone. But also a great charity to support as I’ve lost people close to me from leukemia and cancer. It’s a way of remembering them also.”
Jo, who alongside fire fighting works as a canine health and wellbeing coordinator at Guide Dogs New Zealand, is also tackling the tower for the first time.
“I’ve been a little unsure about what to expect, but have been getting some tips from the crew,” she says.
Russell White says that the Manly team see the challenge as a great way to build up their fitness, while helping families affected by leukemia.
“As a group we have raised funds through our own family, friends and networks we have within the community and abroad.
We ran a carwash outside one of our loyal supporters, Fitter Faster Stronger Gym, which raised several hundred dollars. We also just recently undertook an online auction which raised over $2000.”
“It is a great team building opportunity to push each other, pump each other up and secretly keep an eye on who our biggest competition will be on the day!”
Volunteer Deputy Chief Fire Officer Jared Rehm leads the Puhoi brigade, joined by Tony Cook, Liam Wilson, Russell Green, Celeste Koch and Malec Odendaal. This is the brigade’s third year participating, but a first climb for Russel, the station’s Chief Fire Officer.
He says raising funds and awareness for those less fortunate is the real goal, “getting to the top comes second.”
The fastest time ever recorded by a firefighter in the Sky Tower Stair Challenge is eight minutes and six seconds, set by Josh Harrison from Otara station in 2019.
To support the teams:
https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-manly-volunteer-fire-brigade
https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-silverdale-volunteer-fire-brigade
https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-puhoi-volunteer-fire-brigade
