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Manly fire volunteers walked from dawn till dusk to raise money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ. A large amount of rubbish was found along the way, filling several bags. Cash donations went into specially repurposed fire extinguishers.
Six members of the 12-strong team from Manly Fire Brigade who are taking on this year’s Sky Tower Challenge also set themselves a formidable training and fundraising challenge along the way.
The group walked from Puhoi to Manly – a distance of 32.94km – wearing their full firefighting kit, on Saturday, April 13. It took them all day, from 6.30am to 5pm.
Last year they walked from Gulf Harbour to Red Beach. Fire fighter Cameron Macdonald said this year’s longer walk was more rewarding, and raised more money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ, although the team was exhausted mentally and physically.
“It was a massive mental effort towards the end, trying to motivate our legs to move,” Cameron says.
Donations of $1521 were made by members of the public during the walk.
“The response was incredible. People who didn’t have money on them got straight onto their phones to donate online or went to an ATM,” Cameron says.
Along the way, the team picked up rubbish, which filled 11 bags.
Cameron says fast food packaging and alcohol bottles and cans were the most common rubbish, but they also found an assembly point sign and multiple pieces of electronic waste.
The Manly Skywalkers team is hoping to raise $10,000 for the Sky Tower Challenge, which takes place on Saturday, May 18. To support them, make a donation at bit.ly/MANLY-LBC
