By Aaron Cordy
FIREFIGHTERS and emergency service personnel from across Australia and the globe, including a handful of local CFA firefighters, will descend upon Melbourne to ascend the gruelling 28 Floors of the Crown Metropol for the 13th Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, raising vital funds for Cancer Research and Crisis Support.
Climbers will battle 28 floors while wearing up to 25kg of turnout gear and breathing apparatus, or similarly weighted operational equipment from their emergency service, as a symbol of the burden of significant health and well-being issues faced by our first responders and their families daily. Some will also be breathing “on air” through a self-contained breathing apparatus, adding an extra level of difficulty to their climb.
The idea behind the climb came after the September 11 attacks in America, where so many firefighters died in the stairwells trying to rescue people. Inspired by those brave men and women, knowing the pressure and challenges our own brave emergency workers face, the stair climb began to raise funds for charities.
This year’s beneficiaries are Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and 000Foundation, aiming to raise over a million dollars to help them continue.
The 13th Annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb is on Saturday, September 12. To support our local CFA volunteers, visit the link for more information and to give a generous donation for those who stand on the front line of emergency services at www.firefighterclimb.org.au/.
