WHEN a team of firefighters set a goal, they achieve it.
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And, that’s exactly what the Fire and Rescue NSW’s 208 Aberdeen Station has done, with the help of the local community and a bit of fun along the way.
Six Aberdeen fire fighters will tackle the gruelling 1504 steps of the Sydney Tower Eye next month to raise funds for motor neurone disease research (MND).
The group has been putting in the hard yards, training three times a week, and set up a fundraising page earlier in the year with a target of $10,000 ahead of the Firies Climb for MND.
Fast forward a couple of months and they’re confident they have reached their goal, thanks to support from Aberdeen Public School, the Aberdeen Rugby League Football Club and Bengalla Mining Company.
A colour fun run lit up Jefferson Park on Friday with more than 200 Aberdeen Public School students turning the grounds into a rainbow in support of their local firies and for a great cause.
The day also doubled as a fundraiser for the school’s P&C.
Retained firefighter Ryan King said the idea to do a colour fun run came from his wife Brogan.
“The kids have been fundraising leading up to today,” he said.
“We’ll split whatever is made between the school’s P&C and our funds for the stair climb.
“Between the school, the Aberdeen firefighters, the local footy club and Bengalla, because we also work at Bengalla, it’s been great to bring the community together.
“We have also organised a football coaching clinic for the whole school and the class that raises the most money get special photos and a meet and greet with NRL players.”
RFF King said the Aberdeen Fire Station’s total fundraising effort will be in excess of $10,000 once Friday’s funds are added.
“And, the total contribution from the 600 firefighters across Australia participating in the climb is at $350,000,” he said.
“Since 2015 when it started they’ve raised a bit over $1.5 million for MND research.”
All donations go to Macquarie University which houses Australia’s largest MND research facility.
The team say they’ll now look at making the colour fun run an annual event.
“Our goal as a team was $10,000 and we’re going to surpass that so next year we’ll try $20,000,” RFF King said.
“It’s just amazing for the whole town how much the whole community has got involved, it’s really good for Aberdeen.
“And, it’s good for the kids to be a part of it as well.”