Perth Airport firefighters set big stair climbing challenge for second year to raise money for Telethon 2025
Firefighters keeping Perth Airport flights safe have set themselves a challenge for this year’s Telethon – but they’re confident they can do it to help sick children.
A team of 40 from Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue Firefighting Service raised nearly $21,000 last year by running a relay race up and down the 145 steps at Whitfords Nodes Park in Hilarys.
They aim to surpass that effort this year by seeing how many laps they can make in 24 hours while wearing breathing equipment weighing approximately 16kg and carrying a firefighting axe.
Phil Birch, chief firefighter at the airport branch, said the 407 laps achieved in 2024 was “the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest”. And this time they hope to do around 700 runs.
“It will be difficult, no doubt, but I have confidence in our men,” Mr. Birch said. “We can do this.”
He said the team is trying to at least match the amount raised last year and is aiming for $25,000, with about $10,000 already raised.
