Stairway to Happiness

AUGUST 2018 | David Claridge

OUR VOLUNTEER Firefighters already give a lot of their time to keep the community safe, but in September a team is heading off to take part in something that will test them on many levels.

Following a challenging first year at the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, Elizabeth Town Brigade Chief, Richard Bennett, has made good on his promise to put a team together.

Members from Elizabeth Town and Deloraine are training hard and using Richard’s knowledge to prepare themselves for what will be, not only a physical challenge, but a mental one as well.

In structure gear and breathing apparatus weighing 25kg, hundreds of firefighters from Australia and beyond will race up 28 floors of stairs, raising money to fight depression, PTSD and suicide.

Richard said that he now has four firefighters from Deloraine, plus his wife, himself and one other from Elizabeth Town. They are training together when they can.

“We’ve been training together, using the few stairs in Deloraine, the Zig Zag track at the Gorge and at MFX Gym in Deloraine,” he said.

“Doing it last year taught me that it involves a lot of sore legs and burning lungs.

“We will have a raffle leading up to the stair climb and will hold a garage sale to raise funds for the event on the 12th August at the Deloraine Fire Station at ten o’clock.

Brigade Chief Dan Watson has joined the team because the charities are important to him.

“Depression and suicide are important to me. I lost a really good mate because of them, ever since then it’s been a project I’ve wanted to help support where I can. I’m working on cardio and getting my leg strength better.”

Donations can be made on the Stair Climb website https://www.firefighterclimb.org.au/ under the participants name.

Richard’s team consists of his wife, Fiona Bennett, Lyell Dean; and from Deloraine: Dan Watson, Simon Sherriff, Shaun Vidler and Alistair Horsburgh.

The event is aiming to raise $700,000 for Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute.

According to the stair climb website, three million Australians are living with depression and anxiety and that suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44.

Photo | supplied