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A gruelling challenge awaits firefighters from around Australia at they prepare to climb Sydney Tower in November to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease [MND].
Michael Butt, Travis McCall and Aidan Mangano will on Saturday climb the steps at Mudgee Library over and over hoping to raise awareness for their climb and MND.
Travis McCall from Gulgong FRNSW said they hope people come along.
"We start at 8am, we hope to have one of us on the stairs at all times. So we will see how long we last," Travis said.
"We will do some bucket shaking and raise a bit of awareness for what we're actually doing it for. Get the word out about MND."
Michael Butt from Gulgong FRNSW said they will be using the stairs for training ahead of the climb.
"So we will be training on Saturday, utilising the stairs beside the library as a bit of endurance training, getting ready for our climb, which sees us going up Centrepoint Tower," Michael said.
"We will be climbing on November 9. The climb is up every staircase of Centrepoint Tower which is 1504 steps or 98 storeys. "It's very enduring and very draining. We will be in our equipment, so it certainly does take the wind out of you,"
"We will also have some raffle tickets for sale as well for our major prize of a Can-Am Defender ATV. So come on down, come and watch us sweat in training and come and ask questions and say hello."
No longer able to make the climb this year, Paul Cavalier said to the Mudgee Guardian in September that the Gulgong group are hoping to improve on their fundraising from last year.
Read more: The Gibbs' fab family reunion in Gulgong
"Our team in Gulgong were one of the top teams in Australia and New Zealand for fundraising [last year] and we're trying to beat that this year. We hatched up this plan to raffle a $25,000 buggy. I think if we sell all the tickets we should raise over $75,000.," Paul said.
He also explained just what it feels like to climb the tower in full apparatus.
"It's 98 storeys and 1504 steps. But I tell you, it feels like 980. It's so hard, you're wearing your BA set on your back and you're wearing all of your structural firefighting gear which is about 21-22 kgs," Paul said.
"It's tough, but it's nothing compared to what people with MND go through every day. you have to keep reminding yourself that."
