Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge
On Saturday, 23 May, a record-breaking 80 New Zealand fire brigades raced up the Sky Tower for a chance to claim the fastest man, fastest woman and fastest team raising a record $140,000 for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation (LBF).
In its sixth year, the event has grown from a challenge between two guys to an intense gut-buster with a total of 422 people competing. The number included 365 New Zealand firefighters and firefighters from Australia and the U.S.
Hailing as far north as Paihia and south as Alexandra, the New Zealand firefighters trained and fundraised for months leading up to the event. The 80 brigades raced up 51 flights - or 1,103 Sky Tower steps - wearing full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus weighing up to 25kg.
In addition to having a go at the records for speed the firefighters targeted the lead fundraiser record which Paihia has held for the last three years.
And for the fourth consecutive year, raising $15,670 Paihia’s Volunteer Fire Brigade seized the fundraising trophy. They were closely followed by Auckland Airport Rescue Fire who raised $11,980 and Waipawa Fire Brigade who raised $8,793 – but once again could not be caught.
The event brings a small community together in lots of ways. “We’re really privileged to be part of the event and to lead the fundraising for four years in a row,” said Paihia firefighter Hughie Blues. “It’s good to see all the other brigades participate. There are a lot of people who know others affected by blood disorders; it’s what keeps us going.”
The award for individual fundraiser went to firefighters Andrew Gould of Plimmerton who raised $1,900 followed by Kawakawa’s Alistair Leitch who raised $1,846. Stephen Jones a General Manager at Air New Zealand brought in a whopping $7,530 for the cause.
The winner for the fastest man went to Doug Kinsella, from South Auckland who completed the race in an impressive 9 minutes 40 seconds. The fastest female was, for the second year in a row, Maree Ryan from Hutt City who finished in 14 minutes 11 seconds.
Pru Etcheverry, Executive Director of the LBF, says, “We are very humbled by the firefighters, our community heroes, with daily acts of bravery and kindness, and on top of all, that they commit to this event year after year to fundraise and support us.” The $140,000 raised from the event will go to support the LBF Patient Support Services and other programmes.
The event was sponsored by SKYCITY and Auckland Airport and supported by New Zealand Fire Service, Scott Health & Safety, High Pressure Equipment, Coca-Cola, MoreFM and St. John Ambulance. Prizes for the winners included a gift card to the value of $500 provided by JR Duty Free and 1 bottle of 42 Below Vodka (Feijoa) and a twin pack of Villa Maria wine provided by Auckland Airport.
To view and purchase photos from the event, visit www.stc.quikpix.co.nz.
| Stephen Kibler, USA Firefighter Team | Nikki Kaye Auckland Central MP and |
| (running the relay) | Auckland Airport CEO, Simon Moutter |
WINNING RESULTS
Fastest Team Time
1. South Auckland
2. Auckland Airport Rescue Fire
3. Paihia
Relay
1. South Auckland
2. Auckland Airport Rescue Fire
3. Linton Army
Individual Female – Donned (in full firefighter gear but not breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Lisa McCallum, Bethells Valley
2. Tara Remington, Awhitu Rural
3. Nicola Evans, Stratford
Individual Male - Donned (in full firefighter gear but not breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Peter Cranwell, Auckland City
2. Hamish Fraser, Rangiora
3. John Ashton, Paihia
18-39 Male Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Doug Kinsella, South Auckland
2. Paul Gerritsen, Remuera
3. Dan Van Hoppe, South Auckland
18-39 Female Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Maree Ryan, Hutt City
2. Jodie Shelman, USA
3. Georgina Shanks, Linton Army
40-54 Male Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Steven Callagher, East Coast Bays
2. Rex Wilson, Paihia
3. Stuart Graham, Auckland Airport Fire Rescue
40+ Female Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Michelle Noakes, East Coast Bays
2. Isabelle Lardeux-Gilloux, Greenhithe
3. Fiona Campbell, Waipu
50+ Male Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Richard Noakes, East Coast Bays
2. Henry Tainsh, Cooks Beach
3. Max Day, Whitianga
Top Fundraisers - Brigades
1. Paihia
2. Auckland Airport Fire Rescue
3. Waipawa Fire Brigade
Top Fundraisers - Individual Firefighters
1. Andrew Gould, Plimmerton
2. Alistair Leitch, Kawakawa
Summer 2009
The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation (LBF) is New Zealand's leading resource of information specifically for patients and their families affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood conditions.
The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation operates and administers the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry. We are greatly assisted in this role by our close relationship with the New Zealand Blood Service.
The registry lists more than 7,800 people who are willing to donate their bone marrow (or stem cells) to patients world-wide. The NZBMDR is also part of a worldwide network of volunteer registries, which contains over 11.5 million unrelated donors.