It was a “ten out of ten day” in Auckland for six Motueka Volunteer Fire Brigade members as they ascended 51 flights of stairs rucking 25kg in the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge late last month.
The same score could be awarded to the community’s generosity to fuel their overarching purpose for competing, which was fundraising for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Motueka team captain Jess Nelipovich says, on current figures, the brigade has raised $14,000, two grand more than its initial target, with donations open until the end of June.
“I think that’s the highest we’ve ever raised as a brigade, and to be able to contribute that much to leukaemia and blood cancer, we feel really humbled that we were able to achieve that,” she says.
Jess says herself, Amanda Theriault, Bec Bryan, Alan Ball, Tracey Hovenden and Nancy Ceja-Garcia with Tasman Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade members Marcus Bryan and Charles Pickett in tow, all burned through the pain to reach the top.
Tasman Rural Fire has currently racked up $1800.
Visit firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-tasman-voluntary-rural-fire-force or -motueka-volunteer-fire-brigade to donate.
