Pirongia Voluntary Rural Fire Force’s Franklin St station.
A team mostly made up of first timers is ready to step up.
Pirongia Rural Fire will field the largest team it has ever had in the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge this year.
The brigade has a six year association with the event.
In May, when the challenge celebrates its 20th anniversary, six Pirongia members – Nikki Steenson, Brendon Mounsey, team captain Jodi Reymer, Josua Gouws, Daniel Delgado and Jake Zeuren – will be there.
The event sees teams racing 328 metres up Auckland Sky Tower’s 51 flights of stairs – 1103 individual steps – in full firefighting kit weighing 25kg.
The challenge raises funds, and awareness for, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Every day, eight people in New Zealand are diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Challenge participants can also choose to take on the Firefighter of Steel challenge, adding nearly 10 flights of stairs to their climb.
In Pirongia’s case, half the team will climb 51 stairs, half will complete 60.
And the crew is getting an early jump on fundraising – and training.
Jodi told The News the Pirongia team was already preparing as individuals ahead of May.
“A few have been on the Hakarimata Summit track,” she said.
“Fundraising wise, we also have a number of collective initiatives planned.
“Organisers set each participant a goal of raising at least $1500, but each of us will be aiming to raise as much as we can over and above that.”
As far as having the role of Pirongia team captain goes this year, Jodi said it was a privilege.
Last year, about 1000 firefighters from around New Zealand – and some from Australia – competed.
Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade’s 19-person 2023 team raised more than $25,000.
Jodi and Jake have completed in the challenge before – they were the only two from the Pirongia brigade to compete last year.
Meanwhile, Brendon has previously competed in the Memorial Firefighter Stair Climb, another event held at the Sky Tower which honours every New Zealand firefighter lost in the line of duty since 1872.
He and the other four members are firefighter challenge first timers.
In October, The News reported that after seven years in the brigade, Jodi will become Pirongia’s newest female senior firefighter when she qualifies for the role in March.
That same month, she returned from the 32nd World Firefighter Challenge Championships in Florida having won two bronze medals – one in the under 40 female individual event, the other in a women’s relay category.
The lead up to this year’s Sky Tower will again be a busy one for Jodi – in April she will compete in the North Island Firefighter Challenge in Palmerston North, then – just weeks before the Sky Tower Challenge in May – she will head to Wellington’s National Firefighter Challenge.
She has also previously said she would love to encourage other Pirongia brigade members to join her in competing at future Firefighter Challenge championships.
Pirongia firefighters, from left, Nikki Steenson, Jake Zeuren, team captain Jodi Reymer, Daniel Delgado and Josua Gouws.
