Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge: Announcer Heather du Plessis-Allan rises to the top

She was the fastest woman to climb the 1103 stairs of Auckland’s Sky Tower, but the real champions were the firefighters at her side, says announcer Heather du Plessis-Allan.

The host of Newstalk ZB’s Drive and more than 400 people climbed the city’s iconic tower yesterday for the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge in support of Leukemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. More than 783,000 had been raised through the challenge as of late Saturday afternoon.

Du Plessis-Allan was the fastest woman, with a time of 12m 29s.

But the announcer was quick to point out that as a member of Squad 31, a non-firefighter participant, she had an easier journey climbing the many steps of the tower.

Those in Squad 31 – 16 this year – wear their firefighter’s uniform, but not their heavy gear, and may wear running shoes instead of heavy boots.

The participating firefighters, who numbered 411 in the country’s professional and voluntary brigades, in some cases climbed the tower with breathing apparatus, which also meant carrying 20 kg of oxygen on their backs.

“It was challenging and hot,” du Plessis-Allan said of the long climb.

“I have great respect for firefighters. You get into one of those suits and it’s really hot. And all those other women [with slower times] they wore steel in their boots and wore their full gear … we [in Squad 31] I have it so easy. “

Fellow member of Squad 31, New Zealand Breakers CEO Matt Walsh posted a time of 11m 37s while cancer survivor and funding activist David Downs posted a time of 19m 48s.

The fastest firefighter was Josh Harrison, with a time of 8m 17s, and the fastest firefighter Helen Sinclair, with 13m 28s.

In the Firefighter of Steel category, where participants wear particularly heavy gear, Mike Steenson finished first, at 13m 30s.

Du Plessis-Allan was participating in her first ladder challenge, after being encouraged by fellow participant and ZB announcer Ivanka Zonich, who completed the climb in 19m 10s.

The workout was forgotten until about a month after the event, when he started spending more time on the step machine in the gym and climbing the five flights of stairs in the NZME building, where 10 reps equals the number of steps in the challenge. of stairs.

Still, du Plessis-Allan wasn’t sure how it would go and was surprised to climb the tower in just over 12 minutes.

“All I do is walk around an air-conditioned office all day.”

Every day, seven children and adults in New Zealand are diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disease.

Leukemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand uses the funds raised through the Ladder Challenge to help patients and their families through programs, hospital visits and information, and support research on cures and better treatments.