Mooropna CFA team Blade Larkins, Kayla Haigh, Larissa Ballard and Daniel Gauci.
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Local legends are fanning the flames for this year’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb — and they’re going all out.
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On Saturday, September 6, 1000 firefighters, volunteers and emergency service personnel from across Australia, and overseas, will race up 28 floors of the Crown Metropol to raise funds for cancer research and crisis support.
The Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb aims to raise $1 million for Lifeline, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and 000 Foundation to improve support services, fund research, remove stigma and raise awareness of cancer and mental health issues.
Equipped with breathing apparatus and up to 25kg of turnout gear, competitors will race to the top to claim first place out of the entire cohort.
And for those wearing the mask, they must make it up before they run out of air.
Toolamba CFA’s Bailey Argus is ready to give another climb his all.
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From Mooroopna, Natalie Dobbyn, Blade Larkins, Daniel Gauci, Larissa Ballard and Kayla Haigh will be taking on the climb, alongside Toolamba’s Bailey Argus, who alone raised more than $2000 in previous years.
For returning participant Ms Dobbyn, this will be her eighth year.
Mooroopna CFA’s Natalie Dobbyn is setting her sights on a quicker ascent.
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“(I feel) excited, but you always get the nerves coming up to it, but the atmosphere there is just indescribable — it’s amazing,” she said.
“Everyone looks after each other, everyone supports each other getting up the stairs.
“It’s something really good.”
This year, her goal is to climb the whole 28 floors in under 10 minutes.
“I can see the past timings that I’ve had, you know, that I’ve shaved off, a minute here or there,” she said.
“But I think last year was just shy of 12 minutes, so I’m pretty keen to get it below 10 minutes this year.”
And for determined first-timer Mr Gauci, this climb will hit close to home.
Mooroopna CFA’s Daniel Gauci will be putting his heart into this year’s climb.
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“This year (is my first), I’ve been trying to get in for quite a while, but it’s just one of those things where there’s a lot of people that log in all at the same time to try and get on,” he said.
“You got Peter Mac and 000 Foundation that we’re raising money for, and I lost my best mate earlier this year to cancer.
“He only found out on the Australia Day weekend, and then he was gone by March 17.
“This year’s pretty important, so I’m glad I got on to it, and I’m able to raise money for him.”
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