INVERLOCH firefighters Michael Guest and Hayden Tipping are heading to Crown Metropol, Melbourne on September 10 to participate in the 9th Annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb (MFSC).
Alongside 600 other firefighters and emergency service personal, the pair will step up to fight depression, PTSI and suicide by climbing the 28 floors wearing 25kg of turnout gear and breathing apparatus.
Since the climbs inception in 2014, MFSC has raised almost $3 million for charities including the Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Centre, Lifeline, Black Dog Institute, Emergency Services Foundation and 000Foundation.
This year the climb aims to raise $600,000 for Lifeline, Fortem and 000Foundation to improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues.
“2017 was my first stair climb at Crown Metropol,” Michael said.
“There were two young guys from Leongatha that did it in 2016 and they challenged me, at that time I was the Captain at Ruby CFA.
“A couple of other guys said, ‘if you’ll do it, we’ll do it’.”
Completing the challenge in 2017, ’18 and ’19, Michael is back ready to climb again, but this time with Inverloch CFA after moving into town.
Training at TOMFIT in Inverloch the team have rallied around Michael hosting a fundraiser on Friday, August 26.
Join Michael and the trainers at TOMFIT at 5.30pm for a $10 class with all proceeds going directly to Michael’s stair climb.
“The trainers are all volunteering their time to raise money – we are running classes for members and non-members.
“I will also have a tanker there - it will be a lot of fun!”
Michael is also adding to his fundraising efforts by collecting old batteries from cars, trucks and tractors and recycling them.
“Supporting people who are suffering with their mental illness, especially first responders; each year there are representatives at the stair climb from the organisations we donate to, so we can talk to them find out where the money went and what it’s doing.
“In 2019, I spoke with a firefighter who had been suffering mental illness and I got to talk to him and how the money was helping him. He was still struggling but said at least he could get out and thank the people who have been supporting him.”
To donate visit firefighterclimb.org.au/donations/donate or phone Michael on 0409 637 627 for battery donations.
