Ascending 28 levels of stairs while wearing 25kg of turnout gear and breathing apparatus is no easy feat but 10 members of the Echuca CFA proved that determination will get you far.
Raising money for mental health charities, First Lieutenant Alex Green, Fourth Lieutenant Jordan Simpson and firefighters Daniel Phyland, Matthew Edgley, Kaiden Ellis, Shae Bruns, Charlee Amos, Carter Williams, Chris Hawking and Kyle Bartlett represented the brigade in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb on Saturday, September 10.
Mr Green said the challenge was not just physical but mental.
“It was a mind and body challenge,” he said.
“It was even more difficult than what we had expected training-wise.
“You were constantly doing right-hand turns, one after the other, while seeing numbers on doors fly past you as you keep moving.”
Six hundred CFA members from across Victoria attended the climb, 10 of whom were Echuca CFA members.
Members were then split into categories depending on age: under-18s, 18-39s and the 40-49-year-old master class.
Mr Green said he was proud of all of the Echuca CFA members who were involved, as they all did a fantastic job.
“Some of younger members in the 18-39 division were able to reach the top in six and a half minutes,” he said.
“Special mention to Charlee Amos who came first in the female under-18s with a time of nine minutes and six seconds.”
Mr Green was able to reach the top in an outstanding time of 11 minutes.
Funds raised went towards Lifeline, Fortem and the 000 Foundation to improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues, especially for those within the emergency service sector.
Overall more than $500,000 was raised by all of the CFA brigades, with Echuca CFA raising more than $8035 of that total amount.
After reaching that final flight of stairs, Mr Green said he felt a sense of accomplishment rather than tired or sore.
“I almost wanted to do it again because of the feeling of having accomplished it,” he said.
“The camaraderie between us as a team was fantastic. Eight of us stayed in the same hotel with our partners and made a weekend out of it.
“I will definitely be back again, fitter and faster than this year, so that I can smash out an even better time.”
You can still donate to the Echuca CFA’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb fundraiser at www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/echuca