Only two weeks to go until Telethon with Perth Airport firefighters among those getting behind the cause

There are only two weeks to go until Telethon weekend and the community is pulling out all the stops to raise as much money as possible for sick children across the State. Airservices Australia’s aviation rescue firefighting team at Perth Airport are among the people taking part in fundraising challenges to raise much-needed funds for Telethon. Most of the 80 staff at the station will be taking part in the Everest challenge on October 18 and 19 — climbing up and down the Whitfords Nodes Park stairs 407 times in the hopes of hitting $25,000 for Telethon. ARFF leading firefighter Phil Birch said the goal was to complete the challenge in a relay in under 24 hours. “We have been training hard and we have got a committed team so I do think we will be able to get it done,” he said. “It is going to be hard work but it is all for a good cause so that keeps you inspired.” To make the challenge even harder the firefighters will be wearing breathing equipment on their backs, which weighs 16 kilos. Mr Birch said raising money for Telethon would mean a lot to the firefighting crew. “It means a lot to us because a lot of us at the station have kids and certainly have needed healthcare in WA and so we realised the impact that Telethon has,” he said. “It is an important cause to us so we wanted to be able to contribute in our own way and be able to get out into the community and do a public event like this.” The challenge will be kicking off on Friday, October 18 from 3pm and continuing non-stop, through the night, until all 60,000 stairs are completed. On Saturday, October 19, families can come cheer the team on with a fire truck at the challenge for children to look at and a sausage sizzle with all proceeds on the day going to Telethon. There are only 14 sleeps until the Telethon fundraising extravaganza, which will be broadcast live from RAC Arena on October 19-20. The Little Telethon Stars will be joined by a stellar line-up of special guests and top-quality entertainment to shine a light on the beneficiaries who, with the generous donations of the WA community, are changing the lives of children across the State. The much-loved Telethon Family Festival will also be back on Wellington Street on Sunday, October 20. For more information and to donate to the firefighters’ Telethon challenge visit, Perth Aviation Fire and Rescue Everest Challenge.