Bombala 230 Fire and Rescue Unit representative, Malcolm Lavender joined more than 160 fire-fighters climbing 1504 stairs in the Sydney Tower Eye to raise much needed funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research.
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The NSW firefighters and Fire and Rescue members climbed the stairs in full turnout gear with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
"A big thank you to our Bombala Fire Station who supported and contributed to what is now the most successful single fundraising event or activity within Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).
“After 98 storeys it was amazing to cross the finish line with the Sydney skyline all around and thankfully drop the SCBA gear and my turnout jacket," Firefighter Lavender said.
Working in partnership with Macquarie University, the firefighters climb for Motor Neurone Disease has now raised more than $160,000.
Although the total is still climbing, it has already smashed the target of $100,000. and is now the most successful single fundraising event or activity within FRNSW.
Event organiser, qualified fire-fighter Matthew Pridham said his inspiration came from his close friend, Adam Regal.
"Motor Neurone Disease is an unpredictable and wretched disease. While 10 per cent of patients have it due to inheriting a faulty gene, 90 per cent of patients have sporadic Motor Neurone Disease, with no known cause,” Mr Pridham said.
Professor Dominic Rowe, head of Macquarie University Hospital's Motor Neurone Disease clinic said they were thrilled with the donation from FRNSW firefighters to the research centre.
“It is only with research that we will understand what the elements that cause this disease are and how it progresses, which will ultimately lead to therapies that slow and stop it," Professor Rowe said.
