Fire and Rescue NSW Cobar Fire Station 256 Captain Alex Lennon will be suiting up and dragging himself up 1,504 stairs in full firefighting gear in Melbourne in September.
Why? Because mental health matters.
Alex will be taking part in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb 2025 (MFSC25) which aims to raise awareness and funds for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicide prevention.
“Mental health has touched far too many people I know, both in and out of uniform.
“It’s a challenge that pushes you physically, but the bigger goal is supporting those who are struggling silently,” Alex told The Weekly.
Alex has twice previously taken part in stair climb fundraisers in Sydney.
The first was in 2017 and more recently in 2019, as a fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease where he was the highest individual fundraiser.
He said he was keen to participate in
the MFSC25 as it was a huge, national
event that would give him the chance to
connect with other Firies doing the same for their communities.
“Fitness-wise, I’m probably not quite where I was in 2019,” Alex confessed.
“I’ve got a few more grey hairs and a bit more wisdom this time around, and hopefully fewer regrets halfway up the tower.”
When it comes to training for a stair climbing challenge, there aren’t many options in Cobar and Alex said that’s proven to be a challenge-within-a-challenge.
“Cobar is as flat as a pancake!”
However his day job at the CSA Mine involves climbing lots of stairs and ladderways.
“I regularly have to inspect emergency ladderways at work and some of those ladders are 100m up.
“Also walking the CSA headframe is a few hundred steps,” he said.
“So while I haven’t started a formal program, I’m not exactly starting from scratch either.
“I’ve still got time to turn it around, hopefully, maybe, we’ll see.
“Let’s just say the enthusiasm is still there!”
Alex has a few more weeks to convince his legs that climbing 28 floors is a good idea.
“Training will absolutely ramp up, likely in a panic-induced frenzy,” he said.
Another part of the stair climb challenge is the 25kg of firefighting kit that all the participants wear: firefighters’ jacket, overpants, gloves, boots, helmet, flash hood, and breathing apparatus (BA).
“It’s heavy, sweaty, and designed for fires — not fitness events. But that’s the point,” Alex said.
Alex has received lots of support from the community and is over half way to his fundraising goal of $5,000.
“My family’s behind me, my colleagues at the mine and my team at Fire and Rescue NSW Station 256 have rallied around me, and local businesses have chipped in generously.
“It’s a great reminder of how strong the Cobar community is,” Alex said.
“But there’s still a way to go, and every donation helps make a real impact.
“While I’m gearing up to climb 28 floors, the Cops and Ambos will probably just be ordering their first coffee of the day … secretly wishing they were firefighters.
“Banter aside, mental health affects all of us, Cops, Ambos, Firies, Ambos and Cops wishing to be Firies, we’ve all got skin in the game.
“This climb is about supporting each other, raising awareness, and making sure no one gets left behind.”
Alex welcomes more donations and he’d also gladly accept an offer from someone to carry his BA set up the 28 floors of Crown Tower.
For more information or to make a donation, go to: www.firefighterclimb.org.au
