1504 steps. 98 floors. 22 kilograms of weight on board.
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Three fire fighters from the Lithgow Fire and Rescue squad are getting prepared to take part in the 'Firies Climb for Motor Neurone Disease' stair climb at Sydney Tower.
Nicholas Geyer, Michael Evans and Nicholas Thurlow will take part in raising awareness and money for MND research on Saturday, November 9.
Over 600 fire-fighters from around the world will gather in Sydney to take on the challenge of the stair climb.
This is the third year participating in the climb for Mr Thurlow and Mr Evans while Mr Geyer said he was 'excited' to be attending for the first time.
The fire-fighters will be wearing their structural gear, breathing apparatus and heavy work boots, weighing in at about 22 kilograms of extra weight.
According to Mr Thurlow the heat is a real issue.
"It's hot stuff being in the concrete shaft, like it is hot enough when you're just in gear let alone a small space going up that many flights of stairs," he said.
Mr Thurlow said it was a good way to meet other fire fighters.
"It's good to meet other fire-fighters from Fire and Rescue and see what they do," he said.
Mr Evans said he hoped having the Fire and Rescue brand on their fundraising would inspire the general public to also care about trying to find a cure for the disease.
"We have a platform and if we can spread the word and raise more awareness about motor neurone disease then that's what it is all about," he said.
The group said they would like to push themselves with the climb.
"All different ranges of fitness take part, some of the elites can do it quite quickly, while others take around half an hour to an hour," Mr Evans said.
Since Mr Evan's previous time was 19 and a half minutes he has set himself a new goal.
"I would like to crack the 15 minute mark," he said.
Mr Thurlow and Mr Geyer are hoping to crack the 25 minute mark.
The fire-fighters are set to go out into the town rattling buckets up and down Main Street, at Cook St Plaza, Coles Plaza, outside Woolworths and online to raise money for the incurable disease.
According to Mr Thurlow to have your team qualify for the stair climb they have to raise $500 each.
"It's good really, it gives people more incentive to climb and to actually raise money compared to just doing the climb," he said.
The donations have been going well, for the group, who have raised $770 thus far.
"It's going to be hard but that pain is nothing compared to what the people with motor neuron disease go through," Mr Thurlow said.
Mr Thurlow said the disease has an affect on everyone.
"Whether you suffer yourself or know of someone, a friend, a family member we just want to get the ball rolling on trying to find a cure," he said.
The fire-fighters will have a lot of support, with many of the recruits from the station coming down to support them.
"It's just a really great event to get behind,"Mr Geyer said.
If you would like to donate to team 363 Legends you can do so here.
Lithgow West Fire and Rescue fire-fighter Cameron Stevenson will also be doing the stair climb for his third year and we will have a story on him and his journey on our website at 7am on Wednesday, August 7.
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