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Volunteer firefighters from Warkworth, Wellsford and Leigh took on the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge on May 19, raising thousands of dollars for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
The local firefighters joined more than 900 others from around New Zealand, to run up the 1,103 stairs to the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower, while wearing full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus.
Among the standout firefighters were Carmel Simmonds and Martin Lefley from the Leigh Brigade.
Carmel came first in the women’s Grand Master event for firefighters aged between 50 and 60.
Martin was third in the Supreme Masters event for firefighters aged 60 and over.
Meanwhile, Warkworth firefighter Simon Manawaiti came third in the Firefighter of Steel event, where firefighters carry steel cylinders instead of the lighter carbon fibre ones.
Simon says he was greatly helped by having run up Conical Peak in the Dome Valley about a dozen times in training.
It was the first time Simon had attempted the challenge and says he was “really stoked” to be among the place-getters.
He says the event has given him confidence stairs will not be too much of a challenge in a genuine firefighting situation.
Altogether the Warkworth, Wellsford and Leigh brigades raised more than $17,000 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
The grand total raised from the event was $1.25 million.
At 328 metres high, the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere.
