The annual challenge, a race against the clock up 51 flights of stairs in the tower, raised funds for the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer organisation and the proceeds funded a large portion of the charity's support services, partnership manager Matthew McCracken said.
''I'm here to say thank you - without the support from you guys, we couldn't do what we do,'' Mr McCracken told Alexandra firefighters. He was in Otago to thank firefighters who took part in the challenge and to outline how the funds were used.
Last year a 20-strong contingent from Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes joined 530 colleagues from around the country for the challenge in Auckland, a total of $480,000 being raised. This year's event is on May 17 and 700 firefighters have registered - the biggest field in the 10-year history of the challenge.
The organisation received no government funding, so relied on events such as the Sky Tower Challenge. That event was the second-largest source of its funds, behind the ''Shave for a Cure'' week-long event in March.
''The funds raised through the Sky Tower Challenge help us support the 10,000 Kiwis living with a blood cancer or related condition. We offer personalised support and information to patients and their families, fund research into better treatments and finding a cure, raise awareness about the diseases and advocate on behalf of patients,'' Mr McCracken said.
Six people a day were diagnosed with a blood cancer and the organisation worked in with other charities to support those affected, he said.
''We appreciate the fundraising done by brigades and it's very important to us and to the families we support,'' he said.
Alexandra Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Hutton said a team from the Alexandra brigade was the first South Island crew to enter the challenge, eight years ago.
''Since then, it's just snowballed and now brigades from all over the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes districts are involved.''
