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“Participation more than doubled in 2016 and the energy and vibe leading up to it was incredible,” says firefighter Matt Pridham.
The Firies Climb for Motor Neuron Disease (MND), held in October 2016, saw 446 firefighters participate to support the Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research. They raised a staggering $510,000 — an increase of 64 per cent from the previous, inaugural year.
The climb, which challenges registered firies to climb the 1504 stairs of the Sydney Tower Eye in their full 20-kilogram uniform, was initiated by firefighter Matt Pridham in honour of his best friend Adam Regal. In 2013 Adam was diagnosed with MND, the same condition that took the life of his father.
“The support and passion firefighters have shown in training, awareness, and fundraising for the climb truly shows that they’re in the fight with us, and that MND families are not alone,” he says.
Adam feels encouraged by the engagement they received in the climb’s second year.
“What I found most impressive was that the 160 firefighters who did last year’s climb went out and met families fighting MND in their local community and built new friendships with them,” he says. “They told their colleagues about the event and what it was about. It was fantastic to see how passionate they were to make 2016’s event even bigger — before it had even started.”
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