Firefighters from Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges are topping the fundraising charts for the ninth annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.
On September 10, 600 firefighters and other emergency services personnel will climb the 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel in all their gear to raise money to fight depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.
Beaten only by Ember the Service Dog – who is undoubtedly the cutest of the lot – Nick Tschuck, Darryl van Rooy and Linda Krive from Riddells Creek, Sunbury and Malmsbury fire brigades respectively, are in the lead.
Mr van Rooy, secretary of the Sunbury brigade who had raised nearly $1750 as of Thursday, said he’s hoping to match or beat his 2019 triumph when he’d won his age group – much to his own surprise.
“That was a shock and a half to the system, because I certainly wasn’t planning on doing that,” he said.
The firefighter said as a father of a daughter with a disability, the reason he was competing was for the mental health of families like his own.
“I’m climbing for all the mums and dads of kids with a disability. My daughter is disabled, so there is an ongoing angst, worry, what’s going to happen in the future,” he said.
Other than Ember, Riddells Creek Fire Brigade Fourth Lieutenant Nick Tschuck is ahead in the fundraising race at more than $2300.
“I’ve seen first hand the mental health challenges first responders have gone through and the impact that it’s had on individuals and their families,” Lieutenant Tschuck said.
“I’ve also experienced that myself, so it’s definitely a passion of mine to get the word out there.”
Details: www.firefighterclimb.org.au/.
Elsie Lange
