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This weekend, ahead of the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in May, Patumahoe and Waiau Pa’s teams are bringing the challenge to the community.
The 24-Hour Stair Climb Marathon will be held at Pak’n Save Pukekohe from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.
Patumahoe Volunteer Fire Brigade member Harley Baker will be taking part in the Sky Tower Challenge and encourages Franklin to turn out to support firefighters at the Pukekohe fundraiser.
“For two full days, firefighters will be climbing nonstop, simulating the intensity of the Sky
Tower Challenge. The gear is heavy. The heat is real. The fatigue builds quickly. But the reason behind every step is bigger than all of it.”
Every brigade member who climbs has their own reasons for climbing, Baker said.
“Some do it for a personal challenge, some climb for people they know and some climb for loved ones who have either passed or who are living legends today. My personal ‘why’ is for my wife Bonnie, who is a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer survivor.”
During Bonnie’s cancer treatment, Baker had to call an ambulance twice, but because of where they live in Patumahoe, it was the fire brigade that turned up first, and as first responders, they worked on Bonnie until an ambulance arrived.
“Without our fire brigade, one, I would have been on my own during that time, and secondly, Bonnie might not be here. And that was my call to join the fire brigade. It was a way I could give back to someone else who may be in the darkest part of their lives, like we were when they turned up for Bonnie.”
The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge, now in its 22nd consecutive year, is a fun and challenging fundraising event for firefighters to raise money for Blood Cancer NZ.
Over the past four years, Patumahoe Volunteer Fire Brigade has raised $218,000, while Waiau Pa Volunteer Fire Brigade raised $12,000 over the last two years, making a combined total of $230,000 raised for Blood Cancer NZ.
Every day, eight Kiwis are diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age, and at any time in life.
Brigade members climbing this year
Patumahoe Brigade
- Harley Baker
- Ashleigh Lennard
- Kieran Hawke
- Neil Roach
- Brad Muirson
- Roel Ermens
Waiau Pa Brigade
- Dahnie Skelling
- Bridget Tapper
- Janelle Bell
- Jayden Anderson
- Marnie Knox
- Phil Smith
- Rochelle Bootten
24 Hour Stair Climb Marathon
PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe
March 7 & 8
8am to 8pm (both days)
