Firefighters rise to challenge

Napier firefighter Simon Thomson practicing on Shakespeare Rd, Napier for the Auckland Sky Tower stair climb.

Climbing 51 flights of stairs while wearing 25kg of firefighting kit is not easy, but it's "nothing in comparison" to what cancer patients go through.

Fourteen Napier Fire Service members will take on the 1103 steps of the Sky Tower this month for those who have battled leukaemia.

This is the 13th year a team from the Napier service has taken on Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's (LBC) Sky Tower Stair challenge.

On May 13 they will join 900 other firefighters from across the country for the annual fundraiser, which aims to raise $900,000.

Napier volunteer firefighter Jonathan Claybourn became involved because he was passionate about raising money for charity.

It's hard work but it's nothing like what people suffering from leukaemia do.

Jonathan Claybourn

"Being a volunteer firefighter, we like to do things to help out, and give back to the community. This was just a way to do that on a larger scale."

This year Mr Claybourn will be dedicating his climb to his brother-in-law, who passed away last year after battling leukaemia.

Some of his teammates will also be dedicating their climb to local people such as 8-year-old Kingston Karangaroa-Mohi, who has been battling leukaemia for four years.

Some of the team - career and volunteer firefighters - have been taking on the challenge every year.

Firefighter Simon Thomson said he had decided to go "back for a second time", as it offered a personal challenge, and to help raise money for LBC.

He said while he and his teammates were "reasonably fit already", they had been preparing by using stairs around Napier for training.

"Its been six months of training for 15 to 20 minutes of stair climbing. It's hard work but it's nothing like what people suffering from leukaemia do."

The team has been fundraising through various means, including collecting donations outside supermarkets and exercising on a treadmill inside Countdown supermarket.

With the help of 73 sponsors, the Napier team has already raised more than half of their $20,000 goal, making it one of the top 10 fundraising teams in New Zealand.

The team will continue to raise funds over the next two weeks and will be hosting a quiz night on Saturday.

Overall, fundraising for the event is close to $600,000, with only a couple of weeks remaining to meet the fundraising target of $900,000.

The funds raised go back into the community by helping LBC continue to run its service supporting Kiwis and their families across New Zealand who live with a blood cancer.
Last year's event raised a record $1.16 million for LBC, which receives no government funding.

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand CEO Pru Etcheverry said as the event had grown every year the level of support from the firefighters and their communities continued to grow as well.

"We can't thank this wonderful group of firefighters and their supporting communities enough for all the time and effort they invest into fundraising for us, while also training for the event on top of their usual lives and jobs," she said.

* Join the fun at the team's quiz night on Saturday, May 6, at 7.30pm, at Napier's Tabard Theatre. Tickets are $15, prizes on the night.

* Or donate online to help Napier Sky Tower Challenge Team reach their goal at goo.gl/ZdKXDD.

* Check out the Napier Sky Tower Challenge Team on Facebook for updates.