A team of Wollongong firefighters has stepped up to the challenge, and is currently the top fundraiser for the 2018 Firies Climb for MND.
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Team Zulu has raised more than $31,000 so far this year, and on Saturday they’ll join around 600 firefighters from across the nation as they climb the 98 storeys – or 1504 stairs – of Sydney Tower Eye.
With high temperatures forecast for Saturday, and in full firefighting gear, it’ll be no easy task. But the local team members are more than ready to take it on.
“Our challenge is a hard one, but it’s nothing compared to what people with MND go through every day,” team member Sarah Tobin said.
“There’s 10 of us in the team and for many of us this challenge is personal, as we have had loved ones affected by the disease.”
Team members like Naomi Cocksedge, who has lost her mother Pauline, sister Sarah and other family members to the progressive, terminal neurological disease.
Her brother, Dr Justin Yerbury, has dedicated his career to unlocking the key to MND, for which there is no treatment or cure.
Even as he now fights the disease himself, the University of Wollongong researcher continues his work and this week urged others to support the annual climb.
“The climb money goes directly to the MND group at Macquarie University which houses Australia’s largest MND research facility,” he wrote.
“Currently Macquarie University employs over 70 researchers and 12 clinicians involved in the research effort into MND.
“All researchers work together in the one facility, on the one topic, with one aim: To stop MND.”
Dr Yerbury said as a result of the $1.8 million raised since 2015, Macquarie had started two new clinical trials to slow and stop MND.
“This is a huge step forward and gives hope to people living with MND,” he said. “We work closely with the team at Macquarie to understand how genetic mutations cause MND. Our latest work is testing ideas for therapy in the lab.”
As well as holding a variety of fundraisers in the local community, Team Zulu has even turned Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk into an anthem for the climb in a YouTube clip that’s been viewed over 1000 times.
Now in its fourth year, the climb was started by firefighter Matt Pridham after his friend, Flinders man Adam Regal, was diagnosed with the fatal disease.
Sadly Mr Regal died in August, but he leaves an amazing legacy. His many supporters have raised more than $13,000 in his name for this year’s climb.
People can show their support by sponsoring an individual firefighter or team at firiesclimbformnd.org.au.
