Usually filled with intrepid visitors enjoying spectacular World Heritage-listed views, the Furber Stairs in the Blue Mountains will be used to help raise funds to fight motor neurone disease next on September 15-16.
Blue Mountains Tourism president, Jason Cronshaw, will take part in the Firies Climb for MND challenge alongside Wentworth Falls firefighter Gavin Clifton.
All money raised will go to research and support for patients at Macquarie University’s Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research.
MND is a progressive, terminal neurological disease that affects the nerve cells (neurons) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow.
More than $3 million has been raised through the challenge since 2015.
Born out of the original Firies Climb for MND traditionally held at Centre Point Tower in Sydney CBD, the Katoomba challenge will see participants go up and down the Furber Stairs non-stop – 951 steps – for 18 hours.
Mr Cronshaw, who also owns Fantastic Aussie Tours and the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus and is operations manager at Scenic World, will start the challenge at 10pm on Friday, September 15, with mate Bryan Swadling alongside a team of NSW firefighters from Wentworth Falls.
The challenge will finish at 4pm Saturday.
He says he does not view the Furber Stairs run as a dreaded challenge.
“Rather, I am blessed with good health and see each of these steps as a fantastic opportunity to raise money to help someone suffering this awful disease,” he said.
Mr Cronshaw invited supporters to gather at Scenic World’s Terrace Café at 6.30am, where breakfast refreshments will be available for purchase.
The Terrace Bar will then be open from 4pm “till the cockatoos fly home” for celebratory drinks and snacks with climbers.
Go to https://firiesclimbforbluemountains.gofundraise.com.au/ to sponsor a participant.
