Tauranga firefighters are joining hundreds of others nationwide to tackle the 51-floor climb up Auckland's Sky Tower to raise money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Firefighters from Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade Glen Beattie, Jon Gerbert, Pat Wilson, Greg Jensen and Cameron Anderson are taking up the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge on May 17.

Firefighters Pat Wilson and Glen Beattie are in training for their big climb. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

The challenge, in its 10^th year, will see more than 700 firefighters from around New Zealand race up 1103 stairs of the Sky Tower – and they'll be doing it with 25kg of equipment on their backs.

Pat Wilson is taking the climb for the sixth time in a row, dedicating his efforts to the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.

'I don't support too many charities; I guess I like to focus on one and this is a good one,” says Pat, who hadn't had a personal connection to the illnesses until his colleague's daughter was diagnosed with Leukaemia this year.

With an average time of 12 minutes, the 33-year-old admits his training has decreased a little this year. But he's been fitting in some bike rides, while others are taking gym sessions and running up Papamoa Hills.

The firefighters have raised more than $2000 and they would like to thank the Tauranga companies that have supported them so far.

Meanwhile, Tauranga-based Waiouru Army Camp firefighter Rochelle Hailwood and six others from her brigade are running seven flights of stairs every second day to train for the climb.

This is the 25-year-old's fourth time racing up the tower in honour of her granddad, who suffered Leukaemia for 12 years – and she's hoping to beat her personal best of 18 minutes and 26 seconds.

The station hopes to raise $10,000 and so far has raised about $7000.

A fundraising goal of $1 million has been set for the milestone event, which will see 184 NZ-based brigades and 13 international firefighters, who are flying in from Washington, Hawaii and Australia, climb the Auckland tower.

To support participating Tauranga firefighters, visit www.firefightersclimb.org.nz and search for the name of the fire brigade.