From the South to the Sky Tower

From the South to the Sky Tower

In May 2015 firefighters from the Bay Of Plenty and Canterbury will be running through Wellington and the Hutt Valley to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC). Local runners and supporters are invited to help run a leg of the relay.

The firefighters are undertaking an epic challenge, South2Sky. They are running a relay from Bluff to the base of the Sky Tower in Auckland.

Once there, they’ll climb the 51 floors of the Sky Tower in 25 kilograms of firefighter kit as part of the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge on May 23.

The firefighters will stop at approximately 40 small towns and fire stations along the way. “We’re keen for others to join the run and raise awareness of LBC”, says North Island South2Sky Team spokesperson Richard Crawford.

Approximately 10,000 people in New Zealand are living with a blood cancer or a related condition. Six New Zealand children and adults are diagnosed each day with a blood cancer like leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

Patients and families supported by Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand can also be involved in the relay.

Each runner will complete up to 20 kilometres per day with their route being primarily State Highway 1 in the south Island and State Highway 2, 50 and 5 in the North Island.

“Participants are currently training hard to prepare for the relay,” says Mr Crawford.

“The relay it is a huge personal challenge for everyone involved. We are dedicated to helping raise awareness of blood cancers and the work Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand undertakes right across the country,” he says. People who want to help on the run should contact the group via facebook south2sky.

Chief fire officers and brigade members from host stations along the route are also getting involved as the team passes through their areas.

Sponsors who make South2Sky a reality include principal sponsor Massey University and Interislander for transport across Cook Strait. Other sponsors are: Sanitarium, Inov-8 Shoes, Cridge Seeds, Equus Paint, Game Gear, Apparelmaster, Trevelyan's Pack & Cool, Canterbury Waterproofing, Synlait Milk, R-Line Electrolyte drink and BP.

For more information on the event or to donate to this cause please visit the South2Sky website http://south2sky.co.nz/ or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/south2sky.

ENDS

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