More than 200 CFA firefighters completed the 28-floor Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb at Crown Metropol Hotel on Saturday.
Members of 77 CFA brigades across the state, many who donned 25kg of breathing apparatus, climbed for a cure – raising around $250,000 for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Stonehaven Fire Brigade’s Jeff (Junior) Harriott led the individual fundraising tally with more than $11,200.
“I was quite taken aback by what I finished up with,” he said.
Jeff’s fundraising efforts were in support of fellow volunteer Jessica Meyer of Shelford Rural Fire Brigade.
It wasn’t until Jessica contributed to his fundraising - by donating some old car batteries to sell - that he learnt about her experience with breast cancer.
“Once you scratch the surface it’s quite eye-opening to see how many people are affected,” he said.
“They’re people who you think are just leading a normal life, but beneath the surface are dealing with a lot more.”
Jessica was there to congratulate Jeff as he crossed the finished line in a time of 8 minutes and 15 seconds, along with a host of other firefighters who dedicated their climb to her cause.
While the race is over for another year, donations don’t close until the end of September.
Visit www.firefighterclimb.org.au for more information.
Author: CFA Media