Firefighter fundraising for Sky Tower stair climb with car wash

Firefighter Jeff Hall is getting his scrubbing brushes and hose out for a good cause this week.

On Thursday the Rotorua Airport firefighter will be washing cars as part of his fundraising efforts ahead of his fourth Sky Tower Stair Challenge.

The annual challenge is a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Between 9am and 1pm he'll be washing cars on site at Rotorua Airport, asking for a donation in return.

Alongside him will be a fellow firefighter from Gisborne, Quentin Hamilton, and Mike Murray from Thrifty Car Rentals at Rotorua Airport, which is supporting the fundraising efforts.

The stair challenge – and the fundraising ahead of it – has become a passion for Hall. He's raised about $12,000 during his previous three attempts and hopes to see that figure creep up to $16,000 after this year.

"People are just so generous. On Christmas Eve I was fundraising outside Countdown and raised $1800. So many people know of someone who has been affected by leukaemia or another type of blood cancer."

Cancer is also close to Hall's heart, he lost his sister to the illness.

"It's hard not to get emotional when you're out fundraising and people tell you their stories. It's really special."

At last year's stair climb Hall made it up the 51 flights of stairs – 1103 stairs all up – in 14 minutes 55 seconds.

This year he'll be training even harder to get to the top that bit quicker.

Rotorua Airport chief executive Mark Gibb is encouraging people to take advantage of the fundraiser.

"It's great to see our people out there making a difference in our community."

About the car wash
When: Thursday, February 14, 9am – 1pm
Where: Rotorua Airport Cost: Donation, available to anyone