Businesses prepare to tackle Sky Tower stairs

Over 90 businesses will battle it out to be the fastest up the 1,103 steps of Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower this Friday (August 14) when they take part in the Corporate Sky Tower Stair Challenge a fundraising event for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).

More than $270,000 has already been raised which exceeds last year’s total of $255,000 setting a new record for the event. This total is expected to continue to climb over the week.

Numerous well-known Kiwi organisations including SKYCITY, Farmers Trading Company, Fidelity Life, NZ Police and St John Ambulance have spent the last few months organising a range of original initiatives to win the overall fundraising prize.

Farmers Trading Company, a long-term supporter of LBC, have held a number of online auctions and currently have two teams sitting near the top of the leader board. Sky TV held a movie night at the Bridgeway Theatre and a dinner evening with all proceeds going to their team total. Bake sales have proven popular in many large offices as well as the classic Kiwi sausage sizzle.

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s CEO Pru Etcheverry says she is thrilled to see so much enthusiasm from the teams who are fighting their way up the leader board.

“This is the fourth year we’ve held the Corporate Sky Tower Stair Challenge and it’s so exciting to set a new fundraising record for the event this year. I love seeing the fun and creativity that teams apply to their fundraising, we’re incredibly grateful for their support.” 

SKYCITY General Manager Corporate Services Gráinne Troute says it’s fantastic to see the passion local Aucklanders and visitors bring to racing up the Tower, which has become such an iconic structure in Auckland after recently celebrating its 18^th birthday.

“This is the only opportunity corporates and the wider community get to race up the Sky Tower. The funds go to an incredibly worthy cause, supporting all the amazing work LBC do in communities around New Zealand,” says Ms Troute.

“Earlier this year, we celebrated with LBC as they set a record with the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge, raising more than $1 million – we’re looking forward to setting another one with this week’s challenge.”

The money raised from this event funds LBC’s work, including research and support of the six Kiwis diagnosed every day with a blood cancer or related condition and their families. LBC receives no Government funding.


Photo courtesy of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand

The Corporate Sky Tower Stair Challenge is sponsored by SKYCITY and Fitbit. To find out how to support a team, or for more information about the event please visit www.skytowerstairclimb.org.nz