General News
30 August, 2024
Talbot firey set to step up
Talbot Fire Brigade volunteer Reed Smith is preparing to tackle the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb to help raise money for vital causes very dear to his heart.
Firefighters and emergency services personnel across the country will aim to conquer the 28 floors of the nearly 100-metre-high Crown Metropol hotel wearing 25 kilograms of gear to promote the health and wellbeing issues faced by first responders.
The 11th annual event has already raised over $500,000 for various charities including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
Having fought leukemia when he was younger and seeing his mother be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Mr Smith said he is motivated to represent people affected by cancer.
“When I was younger and going through chemotherapy, they said that I would never be able to be a marathon runner or do anything physically intense due to how strong the chemotherapy was and how it damaged my heart,” he said.
“Doing this challenge is to show that I’m proving them wrong.
“I also want to show kids and other people who are going through it as well that they can prove people wrong.”
Other charities include Lifeline and the Triple Zero (000) Foundation, dedicated to the mental health of emergency personnel.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, 39 percent of emergency responders are diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their life.
Mr Smith said personal experiences showed him the importance of speaking out if you are struggling.
“The suicide rate has been quite high and also a lot of people don’t feel like they can talk to people,” he said.
“I had a friend back in school who died by suicide and he must not have thought that he could speak to any of us.
“It hits me hard [thinking] about that — I don’t want people to go through that and think they are alone.”
While training for his first-ever stair climb, Mr Smith said he is looking forward to taking on the challenge for a good cause.
“I’m quite excited, I can’t wait to go to Melbourne and have a go at it, but it’s also nervewracking because I’ve never done this before,” he said.
“I think that is the best thing about doing this, you meet people who have the same mindset and want to represent their brigades.”
To donate to Reed Smith’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb campaign, visit www.firefighterclimb.org.au/climber/reedsmith/
