They also did the heavy lifting in fundraising, bringing in their highest ever amount for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ. The steel cylinders and kit weigh 18kg, so Firefighters of Steel carry nearly 30kg – around 6kg more than the others – as they climb the stairs to floor number 60. A total of 120 firefighters from around the country took on this category, including 21 women – among them, Manly’s Janette Baird and Jade Wickman.
Jade placed fifth in the Female Open category (25:39), and Janette (25:31) was fourth. The number of women in Firefighter of Steel has been increasing in recent years. Just prior to the event, held on Saturday May 18, Janette was at the fire at Gulf Harbour Country Club which destroyed the former golf Pro Shop.
The crew was there from 3.30am, returning to the Manly station three hours later. After a night like that, Janette says it was tight getting to the Skytower for her 9.
30am start, but she made it. This was her first entry in the Steel category, having competed in the Sky Tower Challenge several times before, and, perhaps because it pushed her to her limits, she says she would definitely do it again. The epic climb is an annual fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.
Manly Brigade raised more than $12,500, with Russell White raising the most ($2186). The event’s fundraising site remains open until June 18. So far $1,940,000 has been raised so organisers are hoping some final donations will get them to the $2 million mark.
.
