Invercargill Airport’s own Corey Diack (Crew Chief) and Jed Martin (Senior Firefighter) are once again lacing up for one of New Zealand’s toughest endurance events - the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge - all in the name of raising vital funds and awareness.

The pair will once again take on the gruelling 1,103-step climb up Auckland’s Sky Tower in full firefighting gear, pushing their physical and mental limits to support a cause close to the firefighting community. The event is on Saturday, 23 May 2026 and is currently in its 22nd consecutive year.

This year, however, they’re doing things a little differently.

In a bid to stand out and maximise fundraising efforts, Diack and Martin have embraced a creative (and deliberately cringe-worthy) campaign, featuring 80s-inspired family portrait photoshoots and a series of tongue-in-cheek social media reels.

“We wanted to do something that would actually grab people’s attention,” says Diack. “There’s a lot of great causes out there, so we figured if we could make people laugh, we might also encourage them to get behind us.”

Martin agrees, adding, “We’re definitely putting ourselves out there this year. It’s a bit of fun, but ultimately it’s about raising as much as we can and supporting a really important cause.”

The Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge raises funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, supporting patients and their families through some of the toughest battles they’ll face.

While the training is serious, the campaign is anything but.

From awkward poses to over-the-top captions, the duo’s content is designed to stop the scroll, spark a laugh, and drive donations - with even more in the pipeline.

“Don’t worry,” Martin jokes, “a 2027 calendar might already be in the works.”

Invercargill Airport Chief Executive Stuart Harris says the airport is proud to support the initiative.

“Corey and Jed represent the very best of our team - not just in their professionalism on the job, but in their willingness to go above and beyond for the community,” says Harris. “This challenge is incredibly demanding, and the fact they are putting themselves out there in such a creative way to raise awareness and funds speaks volumes about their character.”

Despite the humour, both firefighters are focused on the bigger picture.

“At the end of the day, it’s about doing our bit,” says Diack. “If we can raise awareness, get people talking, and bring in some donations along the way, then it’s all worth it.”

The Invercargill community and the wider public are encouraged to support Corey and Jed by donating, sharing their campaign, and following their journey as they prepare for the climb. 

Donate here:
https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/invercargill-airport-fire-brigade 
Follow their journey:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588010117653

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