Firefighting chiefs join stair climb fundraiser

THE chief officers of the Country Fire Authority and Metropolitan Fire Brigade will go head-to-head for the first time in this year’s Melbourne Firefighters Stair Climb.

Steve Warrington from the CFA and Dan Stephens from the MFB will join 650 firefighters to climb 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel wearing full firefighting gear.

The fifth running of the annual charity event brings together career and volunteer firefighters from across Australasia and the world to compete while raising vital funds for charity.

Since 2014, the event has raised almost $1.3 million for the Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute.

The 2018 event has already brought in more than $200,000, and organisers hope to raise $700,000 for Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute to ‘Step up to fight Depression, PTSD and Suicide”.

The funds will improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide, especially for those within the emergency and defence services.

The September 1 event simulates the actions of a firefighter entering a burning high-rise building. CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington said he was looking forward to taking on the challenge with his counterpart from MFB.

“This climb is a huge physical challenge for us and everyone who takes part, but it is really nothing compared with the battle that our friends, family and emergency service colleagues can face when it comes to mental health.”

Black Dog Institute chief psychiatrist Associate Professor Samuel Harvey said the institute’s research has shown that one in 10 Australian firefighters are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“We are now at a point where our research has shown how disorders such as PTSD can be effectively treated and we are beginning to understand what needs to be done to help prevent these disorders occurring in the first place.

“Funds raised by this event can help us to provide better mental health education, training and support for first responders and the wider community.”

To donate, head to firefighterclimb.org.au.