Health News – No ordinary climb, as firefighters take on the Sky Tower Challenge

– Saturday, 20 May 2023

– SkyCity Auckland

– 07:00 – 15:30 (approx.)

Back for its 19 th consecutive year, this year’s Challenge promises to be the best yet. The event is the brainchild of Tony Scott who has been part of both Northland and Auckland Airport Fire Rescue Service since 1988. It raised $17,500 in 2005, its first year, and it now consistently raises over $1 million annually.

This year has been a challenging one for firefighters, but they have still used lots of different and creative ways to raise funds to support Kiwis living with blood cancer.

There are 960 people participating – this includes a team of 11 from the Cook Islands, and participants from across Australia. We have also seen a 26% increase in female firefighters sign up to climb this year.

Alongside the firefighters we have eight non-firefighters – known as Squad 51 – taking on the challenge, including putting on all the kit. This Squad is made up from ambassadors and supporters, including people whose lives have been impacted by blood cancer themselves or by a loved one’s blood cancer diagnosis.

07:15: Welcome starts, including a Haka

07:30: First climbers scheduled to start their ascent

09:20: Squad 51 race begins

51 flights of stairs

1,103 individual steps

Firefighters wear up to 25kg of additional kit

At 328 metres, the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere

Every day 8 Kiwis – children and adults – in New Zealand are diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition.