Raymond Terrace firefighter Isabel Rios is all about challenging herself.
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But the latest challenge she has set herself may be the greatest yet.
Ms Rios is preparing to walk up Sydney’s iconic Tower Eye (formerly the Centre Point Tower) – which clocks in at 98 floors and 1504 stairs – in her NSW Fire and Rescue gear.
Her firefighting “structural” gear and cylinder weigh about 20 kilograms.
“I personally like a challenge and this is a big one, probably one of the biggest I’ve done,” Ms Rios said.
“I wanted to push myself and this is for a great cause.”
Ms Rios will complete the climb as part of the Fire Fighters Climb for Motor Neurone Disease event on October 14.
The annual event sees hundreds of firefighters raise money to help MND research, don their gear and race up the tower.
MND is a progressive, terminal neurological disease. It affects the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable people to move, speak, breathe and swallow.
The disease causing the neurones to degenerate and die.
It is estimated that there are 400,000 people worldwide with MND and about 2000 people with the disease in Australia.
There is no known cause for MND.
“I love a big challenge but nothing comes close to the challenges that these individuals face each and every day of their lives,” Ms Rios said.
The money Ms Rios raises for the climb will go to the Macquarie University MND Research Centre.
She said she is hoping to raise $1504, which is $1 for each step of the tower.
This will be Ms Rios’ first challenge as a firefighter, having joined NSWFR in August 2016.
Since committing to the climb at the beginning of August, Ms Rios has been undertaking some special training.
While she has “always been quite physical”, even taking part in the recent Tomaree Trail Run which was 11.5 kilometres, Ms Rios has runs up and down the Queen’s Wharf tower in Newcastle.
“For something extra I bought a 20kg weighted vest, which resembles the weight of my gear, to wear while I’m training.”
To help Ms Rios go to: firiesclimb.gofundraise.com.au/page/IsabelRios
I love a big challenge but nothing comes close to the challenges that these individuals face each and every day of their lives.
- Isabel Rios