By Olivia Condous
Victorian firefighters will be taking on a sky-high challenge next month, putting themselves to the test in order to raise funds and awareness of mental health issues.
The Eynesbury CFA is taking part in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb on September 1, an annual charity challenge run by the 000 Foundation that has emergency service workers taking on the 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel.
The event is designed to simulate the actions of a firefighter entering a burning high rise building, as participants will wear 25 kilograms of equipment including breathing apparatus during the challenge.
Eynesbury CFA voluntary member Mark Willingham said the team participating in the challenge were doing extra training to ensure they were physically prepared for the event.
“Most of us try and keep a relative level of fitness regardless, that’s sort of part of what we do, but this will take a little bit of extra effort,” he said.
Mr Willingham said fundraising for mental health and supporting charity aligned with what working for the CFA was all about.
“Being volunteers in CFA, we’re community minded people in general,
“That’s just in us, ‘Let’s do something good here,’ and we get it done.”
So far, Eynesbury CFA have raised $2590 to support the cause, putting them in the top five stations across the state, with the proceeds going to mental health charities Lifeline and Fortem Australia.
Details: www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/eynesbury/
