Battling blazes is not the only way Merimbula firefighters are trying to save lives.
Bryan Motbey, Ken Brown, Vanessa Haigh and Ryan Marriott have banded together with members of Fire and Rescue NSW stations at Bega, Nowra, Ulladulla and Braidwood to form a team – dubbed ‘Where’s the Lift? – to take on the Sydney Tower climb with colleagues from around the state on October 23.
They are raising money for Macquarie University’s research into a possible cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
The firefighters will wear their full kit, including a breathing apparatus, and carry the 20 kilograms of extra weight up 1504 stairs (98 floors) to the top of the tower.
The Merimbula participants are hoping to raise $1504 each which equates to one dollar per stair.
The crew have been training around four times a week including doing repeat sessions on Merimbula’s Middle Beach staircase.
“Middle Beach has 204 stairs so we are doing it eight times in a row to help get us ready,” Mr Motbey said.
Each of the four locals have different strategies to help them get to the top but they are all hoping to complete the climb in under 20 minutes.
Motor neurone disease attacks nerves that control muscles in the body that allow people to speak, breathe, swallow and generally move. The disease shuts down the body, while intellect remains in tact. It can strike anyone and no effective treatment has been discovered.
People can show their support by donating to one of the four local members at https://firefightersclimbformnd.everydayhero.com/au/wheres-the-lift.
