Kaikohe firefighters step up

Firefighters Brendon Mayall and Aaron Nepia fundraising for their Skytower challenge at the Kaikohe Show. Photo / Aimee Ruka

A team from Kaikohe Volunteer Fire Brigade will take part in the Sky Tower Stair Challenge for the first time this year, a fundraiser which will see them run up the tower's 1103 steps weighed down with 25kg of firefighting gear.

All proceeds from the annual event, which last year raised $915,000, go to Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Northland firefighters have an impressive history in the challenge but the Kaikohe volunteers are newbies in the gruelling 51-storey race.

Team captain Brendon Mayall said his crew of six were training hard for the May 23 event.

They had been walking around town in weight vests, climbing Te Ahuahu hill, and running up and down a flight of 82 steps near Opua wharf.

The other half of the challenge is to raise as much money as possible for the cause.

To that end the volunteers were planning a series of raffles and Trade Me auctions of a Warriors shirt and a helicopter trip to Motukokako/Hole in the Rock, and had placed donation buckets around Kaikohe.

The brigade was also holding a quiz on March 14 at the fire station.

The other team members are Clint Lyall, Steve Peers, Aaron Nepia, and siblings Lara and JJ Hastings. They each aim to raise $1000.

The event was founded by Northlander Tony Scott of Pakaraka. For five years in a row, 2006-10, the Paihia Fire Brigade won the trophy for most money raised by any brigade in the country.

Last year's standout stair climbers included Alistair Leitch, of the Kawakawa Fire Brigade, and Tanya Bijl, of Paihia, who finished fifth and sixth in their divisions in 12 minutes 16 seconds and 16 minutes, respectively.-For more information, contact Mr Mayall on 021 998 416 or email aimeeruka@vodafone.co.nz. The team also has a Facebook page (search for "Kaikohe Sky Tower Challenge Team").