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Firefighters Challenge '07

New fundraising and climb time records set

61FFC-logo More than 150 keen firefighters tested their endurance in a gut-busting vertical challenge up Auckland’s Sky Tower on Saturday 12 May, 2007. At 328 metres, the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and SKYCITY proudly supported the firefighters as they raised their heart rates whilst raising much-needed funds for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation.

New climb records were set as the competitors scaled 47 flights of stairs and 1,029 steps. The winning firefighter, Michael Crisford from RNZAF, Whenuapai, raced up them in a record-breaking 10 minutes and 7 seconds. A special guest this year was Jamie Joroff, a firefighter and paramedic with Prince George’s County Fire Department in Maryland, U.S.A. Jamie decided to make her first trip to New Zealand to compete and won the women’s section with a time of 15 minutes and 39 seconds. In the team’s event, where teams of 3 compete to conquer 10,000 stairs, the winning team was Paihia. The firefighters all wore full fire-fighting kit and breathing apparatus weighing approximately 22kg.

A spectacular fundraising record was made with over $50,000 being raised for the LBF, (double last year’s fundraising). The firefighters gained sponsorship for their efforts from friends, colleagues and family in their local communities. The diverse range of fundraising activities this year include a wildlife hunting competition in Mossburn, Southland and sausage sizzles, public events and fundraising evenings all over the country. Lead fundraising brigade Paihia raised a staggering $15,000.

53FFCEvent organiser and firefighter Tony Scott bitten by the stair climbing bug has joined Kiwi teams in stair climb events in Seattle, Chicago and Melbourne. This inspiration has led him to organise the event here in New Zealand and it is now the largest individual firefighting competition in the country. “It was fantastic to see the number of firefighters participating up on last year and working so hard to raise more money and break the time records” he said.


Pru Etcheverry, Executive Director of the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation, said: “The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation receives no government funding. As such, we are absolutely delighted with the huge success of this event, raising $50,000, and it is wonderful to have had communities from all over New Zealand support their local brigades. All the money is allocated to our Patient Support Programme helping New Zealand patients and families. The energy and enthusiasm of supporters like Tony and the firefighters is invaluable, and ultimately makes our work possible."

We are grateful to SKYCITY for their support of the Firefighters Sky Tower Vertical Challenge event.

Winning Results

TIMING

Individual Men:
1. Michael Crisford, Whenuapai - 10m 7s (new record)
2. Steven Callagher, East Coast Bays - 10m 41s
3. Jason Bennett, Cooks Beach - 11m 13s

Individual Women:
1. Jamie Joroff, Prince George’s County Fire Department, Maryland, U.S.A - 15m 39s
2. Carmen Daniela, Tokomaru - 16m 3s
3. Maree Ryan, Tauranga - 17m 26s

Team Results (10,000 stairs):
1. Paihia - won by only 35 seconds
2. Te Awamutu
3. Wheunuapai

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising Teams:
1. Paihia - $15,000
2. Alexandra - $7,000
3. Mossburn - $7,000

Fundraising Individuals:
1. Garth Sunckell, Mt Maunganui - $2,438
2. Tony Scott, Auckland Airport Rescue - $1,398
3. Meri Hope Cross, Waitakere - $1,350