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Pakenham CFA stair climbers Russell Cotterell, Brayden Carr, Jarrod Mann, Chris Poulton, Nicholas Raca and Natalie Morgan. Picture: SUPPLIED 12588394-AI05-23
Six daring Pakenham CFA members will step up to face a daunting challenge next month as they take on the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb. The 10th annual climb will see firefighters and emergency services personnel tackle 28 gruelling floors of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Tower to raise funds for cancer and mental health research. Climbers will take on the step challenge on 2 September weighed down by 25kg of kit - including heavy uniform, a cylinder and breathing apparatus, representing the physical and emotional health challenges faced by first responders and their families. Pakenham CFA Lieutenant Natalie Morgan will tackle the climb for the second time this year. “It’s definitely hard and it’s definitely a mental game more than a physical game,” she said. “You get fatigued pretty quickly in a staircase and you’ve got people overtaking you as you go, but I think the adrenaline and motivation kicks in quickly. “[Last year] I got up a lot quicker than I expected, I think the adrenaline and knowing what you’re doing it for gives you a good motivation to get to the top.” Lieutenant Morgan said the challenge has a personal meaning for the local brigade this year, with one of the members recently diagnosed with bowel cancer. “It’s been a pretty big shock to their family and our CFA family as well, but it’s giving us a bit more of a push and a bit more motivation to get to the top of those stairs,” Lieutenant Morgan said. So far, the Pakenham brigade has raised over $2300 for the cause, which will be split between the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, Lifeline and the 000Foundation. Lieutenant Morgan said she’d love to see
the team raise between $5000 and $10,000 for the causes. “Every cent counts. We’re all in hard stricken times with inflation at the moment, but to be able to even spare $5, if they can give up a coffee, to give back to incredible beneficiaries that do a lot of hard work for people would be very encouraging and motivating for us as well.” The Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb has set itself a $700,000 fundraising goal, already drumming up close to $258,000. Lieutenant Morgan, who also joined the organising board for this year’s Stair Climb, said the 000Foundation, which is dedicated to the welfare of emergency services personnel and their families, was another organisation close to her heart. “Going through my own mental issues, it’s great to know there’s that support service there that gives support the whole way through, not just after a traumatic incident. “[$700,000] is a big number that’s for sure, it is a huge goal but it’s also something that potentially is achievable. “It could be a game changer for families they could support and services they could support as well.” The Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb is set to take place at Crown Metropol on Saturday 2 September. To donate to the Pakenham CFA’s stair climb fund, head to firefighterclimb.org.au/ donations/donate/cfa/pakenham Help is available. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now, call triple zero (000). You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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