Firefighters in training for Sky Tower challenge

SUE FEA 624196799

SKY TOWER'S THE LIMIT: Arrowtown firefighters Rob Andrews (left) and Terry Youngman, all kitted up in the searing heat, prepare to run up Tobins Track.

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Three Arrowtown volunteer firefighters have been sweating it out in the searing heat, off as well as on the job this summer.

Chris Tate, Rob Andrews and Terry Youngman have been training since October for the Firefighters Sky Tower Vertical Challenge in Auckland in May, which raises funds for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.

Their six hours' training each week, fully kitted out in their protective fire suits complete with 26kg cylinders on their backs, has included runs up Arrowtown's steep and hilly Tobins Track and Sawpit Gully in searing heat. They have also been running in full kit 16 times up and down the longest set of appropriate stairs they could find at the One Mile, near Queenstown.

Their extensive preparation for the intense, gut-busting event up 51 flights of more than 1100 stairs started when Mr Tate came up with the idea that they should enter, Mr Andrews said.

Mr Andrews, an IT technician, Mr Youngman, a plumber, and Mr Tate, a builder, will be auctioned off at a fundraiser quiz night and auction being held at the Arrowtown Hall this month.

"People can bid on us and they get us for four hours – we'll do whatever they want done," Mr Andrews said.

Some of their fellow firefighters were planning some hefty tasks and were likely to up the bidding.

A signed 2009 All Black jersey, accommodation, ski passes, jetboat trips and other prizes would also go under the hammer. They would also be fundraising at the Arrowtown Market Day on Saturdays.

The Arrowtown brigade is sponsoring their trip to Auckland, but all money raised by the trio would go to the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.

Firefighters from around the world converge on Auckland for the event, and the men were aware of some stiff competition from 11 hard-training Alexandra firefighters and a couple of Queenstown firefighters who had just begun their preparation.

sue.fea@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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