In February 2015, a firefighter by the name of Matthew Pridham approached Macquarie University with an idea to create a fundraising event to raise $50,000 for MND research. Matt’s best friend Adam Regal, a loving husband and father of two, was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and is treated at Macquarie by leading MND clinician Professor Dominic Rowe.

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The partnership between Macquarie University and Matt of Fire and Rescue NSW began and in 2015, Community Engagement Manager Megan Pope, alongside Matt, co-founded the Firefighters Climb for MND.

We spoke to Megan ahead of this year’s event to be held on 14 October.

How did your involvement in the cause begin?

As part of my job as Community Engagement Manager, I co-founded the event along with NSW firefighter Matt Pridham. Matt contacted me in February 2015 with the idea to create this event. Initially, we thought it would raise $50,000 and we would potentially get 10 firefighters participating. We ended up raising $184,000, followed by $510,000 in 2016.

I have always been involved in helping the firefighters do their own fundraising, but this is the first year that I am representing Macquarie and doing the climb myself.

What made you want to participate this year? And not being a firefighter yourself, how did you get it across the line?

I was able to do the climb thanks to special permission from FRNSW and the Sydney Tower Eye.

Participating in this climb is symbolic of the struggle that people with MND face every day – they face a grueling challenge that is as much physical as it is mental, just like climbing the Tower!

The climb itself is very challenging – you are wearing a 20kg air set on your back, you are wearing the firefighter uniform which is designed not to let smoke or heat in therefore it doesn’t let heat out; the tower is hot and stuffy AND you have to climb 1504 stairs. It really does involve putting your body on the line as it’s such a difficult challenge.

I wanted to represent the MQ community by participating in this climb as an act of solidarity and support to the firies. I wanted to show that the MQ community (staff, students and alumni) are just as committed and passionate about beating MND as the firies who have done this climb year after year, and just as committed as the MND researchers who work tirelessly here at MQ.

What is your fundraising goal? 

Officially, $1504 (one dollar for every step of the tower). However, I have a friendly competition with Matt. Whoever out of the two us raises the most money for MND research by the day of the climb, gets to wear race bib number one. His fundraising total is now at $5200 so I guess my target is $5201!

What has your training entailed? 

Lots and LOTS of stairs. I have been climbing 1504 stairs on the stair machines at the Sport and Aquatic Centre three times per week for the past few weeks, as well as getting out on the weekend to places like the South Coogee stairs for some extra training.

Delayed onset muscle soreness has become my new normal. If you see someone hobbling around campus over the next few weeks, come say hi!

How can staff get involved? 

The number one way would be to make a donation! By making a donation today, you’ll be demonstrating that the MQ community is just as committed to beating MND as all the firies who are doing this climb.

Support Megan by donating here today.