It’s only 1,504 steps – but who’s counting?
Four firefighters from Fire & Rescue at Wentworth Falls will probably be doing their sums as they near the end of 98 storeys worth of stairs up the Sydney Tower on October 20.
The four are among the 600 firefighters who have volunteered for the Firies Climb for MND, an annual fundraiser which has raised more than $1.3 million since 2015.
For Greg Ritchie, the battle against the disease became personal when his brother-in-law contracted it.
“I saw first-hand the effects the disease has on a person,” he said. “I saw a sporty young man go to nothing in three or four years.”
The death of 48-year-old Ed left his sister raising three children on her own.
It was enough to convince Mr Ritchie to attempt the climb and his three fire buddies – Gavin Clifton, Rick Johnson and Matt Hickey – were quick to join him.
“He asked us to pitch in and do the climb with him and we all agreed,” said Mr Johnson.
Training leader is Mr Hickey, at 36 the youngest of the team. He started them with the stairs down to Empress Falls from the Conservation Hut and they have moved on to longer, and tougher, runs since, including Furber Steps and the 998 steps of the Giant Stairway.
But, as Mr Clifton said, it beats the gym.
“We have the best training facility in the world. At six o’cock in the morning with head lamps, watching the sun come up. Why would you be on a Stairmaster in the gym if you’ve got this?”
The four retained firefighters have full-time jobs elsewhere but none involved much strenuous activity so their three days a week training for the past three months or so has been tough.
“I haven’t done this sort of stuff for years,” Mr Clifton said. “But the best thing about it is we’re doing it together. It has built up a really good camaraderie between us and we spur each other on.”
The team has a number of sponsors, including I Talk Travel, Viva Energy and the Toll Group. But anyone is invited to donate.
There will also be a fundraising sausage sizzle at Bunnings in Katoomba on Saturday, September 29.