21 May 2009
A team of Auckland Airport firefighters will race up the 1,103 steps of Auckland’s Sky Tower this Saturday and the reward is more than the calorie burning and awesome view at the top.
Leukaemia is the fourth most common cancer in New Zealand with six people diagnosed each day. The LBF hope to raise over $100,000 to help provide resources and information for patients, family members and friends affected by the disease.
“Auckland Airport is providing a kick-start to the fundraising efforts with a $15,000 donation,” says CEO Simon Moutter. “This money has come from the generosity of the travelling public who donate their foreign currency in donation globes positioned throughout the airport.”
“The airport has a 60 strong team of firefighters and every year a group competes in this challenge. We decided to come on board as a key partner to encourage fitness and well being and support this great cause,” says Simon. “Our firefighters are in the business of helping people and this is just another way for them to do it.”
Getting even further behind this great cause, Simon Moutter himself is stepping up to the challenge and will be racing in a special guest category. He feels stair climbing is one of his strengths and is confident he will make it to the top in a good time!
Event organiser and airport emergency officer, Tony Scott, says stair climbing is one of the most gruelling sports known to mankind. “It’s a total body workout and you burn twice as many calories than any other activity.”
Each competitor wears 25kgs of full firefighting combat gear for the climb. This might seem a heavy load to carry, but nothing compared to the load that families must carry when a member is battling leukaemia. The quickest time to the top will be around 10 minutes, an average time is 17 minutes
Prizes are awarded to those who get to the top first, but the most hotly contested prize is the team that raises the most money. The airport team have been fundraising and training in the airport over the last couple of months, continually climbing an escalator in the international terminal in their fire gear. Travellers have witnessed their training efforts and given their loose change in support of the grueling leg burning climb.
“Our guys are working hard at trying to break the fundraising record of more than $16,000,” says Tony.
25 May 2009
The results!
Total raised was $140,000... smashing last year’s total of $94,000.
Fastest Team Time
1. South Auckland
2. Auckland Airport Rescue Fire
3. Paihia
Relay
1. South Auckland
2. Auckland Airport Rescue Fire
3. Linton Army
Top Fundraisers - Brigades
1. Paihia - $15,670
2. Auckland Airport Fire Rescue -$11,980
3. Waipawa Fire Brigade -$8,793
Top Fundraisers - Individual Firefighters
1. Andrew Gould, Plimmerton - $1,900
2. Alistair Leitch, Kawakawa - $1,846
Individual Female – Donned (in full firefighter gear but not breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Lisa McCallum, Bethells Valley
2. Tara Remington, Awhitu Rural
3. Nicola Evans, Stratford
Individual Male - Donned (in full firefighter gear but not breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Peter Cranwell, Auckland City
2. Hamish Fraser, Rangiora
3. John Ashton, Paihia
18-39 Male - Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Doug Kinsella, South Auckland
2. Paul Gerritsen, Remuera
3. Dan Van Hoppe, South Auckland
18-39 Female Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Maree Ryan, Hutt City
2. Jodie Shelman, USA
3. Georgina Shanks, Linton Army
40-54 Male Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Steven Callagher, East Coast Bays
2. Rex Wilson, Paihia
3. Stuart Graham, Auckland Airport Fire Rescue
40+ Female Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Michelle Noakes, East Coast Bays
2. Isabelle Lardeux-Gilloux, Greenhithe
3. Fiona Campbell, Waipu
50+ Male Donned and Started (in full firefighter gear breathing through breathing apparatus)
1. Richard Noakes, East Coast Bays
2. Henry Tainsh, Cooks Beach
3. Max Day, Whitianga
Auckland Airport's CEO, Simon Moutter, who was aiming to finish in 20 minutes, was pleased with his final time of 15.58.
Event Details
Event: 2009 Firefighter SkyTower Challenge in association with Auckland AirportDate: Saturday 23 May 2009
Time: 8.30am - 1pm. Top 20 competitors start at 8.30am, Simon Moutter races at 11.45am.
Venue: Sky Tower, SKYCITY, Federal Street, Auckland Central
The numbers:
• 6 children and adults in New Zealand everyday are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition
• More than 500 contacts with patients and general enquiries every month is managed by the LBF Patient Support Services team
• 10,000 people are living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition in New Zealand
• It costs over $1,000 each day to provide LBF’s Support Services
• 51 flights of stairs in the Firefighters Sky Tower Challenge
• 1,103 individual steps
• $94,000 was raised for LBF in the 2008 Firefighters Sky Tower Challenge
• Almost 400 firefighters representing more than 60 fire brigades from around New Zealand are competing in the 2009 Challenge, including a team from the US, a firefighter from Australia, a team from Auckland Airport and Auckland Airport CEO, Simon Moutter.
• At 328 metres the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere
• Auckland Airport is providing a kick-start to the fundraising efforts with a $15,000 donation. This money has come from the generosity of the travelling public who donate their foreign currency in donation globes positioned throughout the airport.
Leukaemia & Blood Foundation
The LBF is the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma and related blood conditions.
Every day six children and adults in New Zealand are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood condition, the equivalent of around 2,200 New Zealanders a year.
The funds raised go towards the LBF’s Support Services Programme to provide core services – patient support, information & education, awareness, advocacy and research.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Aldworth
Communications manager
Auckland Airport
+64 (0) 9 256 8917
+64 (0) 27 474 6483
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