By Aaron Cordy
A FEW steps can go a long way for a good cause. For Katandra CFA volunteer Cheyenne Keem, those steps lead her up 28 flights of stairs with a 25kg kit strapped to her back for the 12th annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.
Cheyenne was one of a thousand firefighters from across the country to tackle the MFSC at Crown Metropol Hotel on Saturday, September 6 helping to raise over a million dollars for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Lifeline, and the 000Foundation.
Attempting the climb for the first time, Cheyenne trained by strapping weights to herself, jogging and climbing the stairs at her office during her lunch break, helping her to finish the MFSC in an impressive eight minutes.
“It’s the camaraderie, really, in emergency services, whether it’s paid or volunteered. And, you know, being around a great group of like-minded people where we all support each other,” said Cheyenne on why she challenged herself to do the MFSC.
“With the events we attend, you’re not there on people’s happiest days of their lives. You’re usually responding on some pretty dark days. So it’s really good to be around people in a really optimistic, motivational type setting supporting such great causes.”
Each climber did so in memory of a firefighter who fell during the 9/11 disaster in New York, which draws on the significance of what firefighters and emergency workers put their lives at risk every time they attend a callout. Cheyenne climbed in memory of FDNY Firefighter Michael Lynch.
Katandra CFA community is holding an open day on Friday, October 31, from 4.30pm to 7pm. There will be a free community BBQ, children’s activities and fire safety information aimed at keeping families safe during the upcoming fire season. Recruitment information is available for anyone interested in volunteering to support the Katandra local community.
“Small communities rely on volunteers, whether it’s from your local CFA brigade or footy club, and I think that’s important to echo, especially in times of crisis, everybody bands together,” said Cheyenne.
