If you spot the Sky Tower glowing red and yellow this Saturday night, here’s why: over 1,100 firefighters from across New Zealand, Australia and Canada—including our own teams from Manly, Silverdale and Puhoi—will have just climbed all 1,103 stairs to the top.

The 2025 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge kicks off at 7:30 AM this Saturday, 24 May, and runs until 15:30.

Now in its 21st year, it’s become a powerful show of strength and solidarity—raising funds and awareness for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ.

Firefighters will be suiting up in full gear (that’s an extra 25kg!) and climbing in groups of 30, every 15 minutes.

It’s no small feat, and this year’s turnout is a record-breaker: 270 brigades and a fundraising goal of more than $1.8 million.

For comparison, the very first challenge in 2005 raised $17,500.

Local volunteers taking part include some familiar faces from our Coast stations, and every dollar raised helps fund patient support services, research, and advocacy through LBC.

For Coasties wanting to cheer them on, the event will be livestreamed on YouTube—just search for “Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge 2025.”

Or, if you’re in the city, you might even catch a glimpse of the action at the base.

It’s an inspiring day that blends community spirit, determination, and a great cause—one step at a time.

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