Hilary Barry tackles firefighter challenge

MICHAEL BRADLEY/Stuff

FIGHTING FIT: TV3 News presenter Hilary Barry at the Firefighter Sky Tower challenge in Auckland.

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It was not the glamorous and made-up TV presenter we are used to seeing on our screens each night.

But you could hardly fault TV3 news anchor Hilary Barry as she, along with dozens of other firefighters puffed and sweated her way up the 51 flights of stairs -or 1,103 steps - of Auckland's Sky Tower wearing full fire-fighting kit - which weighs up to 25kg - this morning.

Barry was in a squad of seven non-firefighters who completed the annual Firefighters Sky Tower Challenge, all in the name of raising money for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation

The group, made up of Barry, Leukaemia and Blood Foundation chief executive Prue Etcheverry, Sky City chief information officer Mike Clarke, Auckland Airport chief information officer Tony Gollin, Fidelity Life chief executive Milton Jennings and Dave Howard - a man who won a competition on Trade Me for the chance to compete in the challenge, was the third squad to race up the building.

The challenge is in it's seventh year and this year 430 participants from 100 fire brigades throughout the country are taking part.

Leukaemia and Blood Foundation spokesperson Leola Abraham said there were also 10 firefighters from the US and two from Australia took part. US firefighters take part in a similar challenge in Seattle each year.

The challenge finishes about 1pm at which time the fastest man, woman and team will be announced.