Publication: nc11042012

A group of Plimmerton firefighters will next month race to the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower.

A team of Plimmerton firefighters are determined to get to the top of the Sky Tower.

Unlike thousands of visitors who take the lift to the top, the nine volunteers will race up the tower’s 1103 steps on May 21 to raise money for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.

It’ll be the first time a team from Plimmerton has taken part in the event, which has been running for six years.

Plimmerton chief fire officer Carl Mills says the initiative came from two volunteers, Toby Wootton and Steve Le Prou.

He says the volunteers have been training for several months. Some of the guys who work in town run up the stairs in their buildings. In Plimmerton there’s a path between Moana Rd and Motuhara Rd. It has 200 steps. So five times up and down equals the Sky tower.”

But the big difference for the Sky Tower Challenge is that the participants will have to wear full firefighting kits and breathing tanks weighing up to 25kg.

Last year’s winner, Josh Harrison from Otara, completed the climb in eight minutes and 45 seconds. Mr Mills says he doubts he will get anywhere near that time. “We want to achieve something for our personal satisfaction. It’s not about winning. It’s about finishing.”

Mr Wootton says he has been training using the stairs of his 16-storey office building, using ankle weights to simulate the weight of fireman’s boots. This week he and colleagues will train on the stairs of Wellington’s tallest building – the 29-storey Majestic Centre. 

He admits the Sky Tower climb will be “pretty exhausting”.

“I don’t think I’ve got a chance of winning. I just want to finish and do the brigade proud.”

The Plimmerton volunteers will drive their own van to Auckland and have arranged their own accommodation. They have also hard at work seeking sponsorship., visiting three local primary schools explaining to the kids what they're doing. “We’re up to $1500. Our target is $5000," says Mr Wootton. 

He says the brigade has organised a car wash to raise money and will welcome donations.  If you can help go to www.goo.gl/pr8W