Barwon Heads firey ready to tackle annual stair climb

A BARWON Heads local will join hundreds of firefighters and emergency service personnel tomorrow (Saturday, September 2) in tackling 28 floors of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Hotel.

21-year-old volunteer firefighter Brandon Newton said the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb was the perfect combination of two things he is passionate about: firefighting and completing a physical challenge.

Part of the Barwon Heads Fire Brigade, Mr Newton completed his first Firefighter Stair Climb last year in six minutes, the 65th quickest time on the day.

He said he is keen to beat his 2022 time while raising funds.

“The stair climb each year is for a really good cause, or three really good causes I should say: Lifeline, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the 000Foundation,” Mr Newton said.

 

 

“It’s my way of giving back, as a volunteer firefighter you have your community which you look after on operation, but I want to use this event to give back to the wider community that I am a part of.

“These three organisations are pivotal to firefighters and emergency service personnel, like me that, may be struggling or going through tough times.”

Each participant will wear 25kg of turnout gear and a breathing apparatus while trying their best to climb 28 flights of stairs and get the quickest time possible.

The challenge is symbolic of health and well-being issues faced by first responders and their families on a daily basis.

In addition to entering the climb, each firefighter fundraises for the beneficiary charities.

 

 

Mr Newton has raised $675 to date through contributions from friends, family, and the Barwon Heads community.

“It’s a really nice feeling to have the community backing me again this year,” Mr Newton said.

“Barwon Heads is a really awesome community, especially to us as a brigade, we’re really fortunate to be where we are.

“I love the community here.”

The climb also remembers the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty during the 9/11 attacks in New York on September 11, 2001.

This year, Mr Newton will take on the stair climb wearing the name and photo on his race bib of New York City Fire Department firefighter James C. Riches in memory of his sacrifice made on the fateful day.

Other local firefighters taking part in the 10th Annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb include Jayden Harrison-Roberts (CFA Ocean Grove), Joshuah Oates (CFA Geelong City), Jackson Dawson (CFA Torquay), and Benjamin Wawn (CFA Modewarre).