Six members of the Cootamundra FRNSW Station 266 (Fire and Rescue NSW) are putting their bodies on the line in a different way to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease in November.
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They will be performing 'The Full Monty' at Cootamundra Ex Services Club on November 1, and a week later on November 9, they will be climbing 1504 stairs in Sydney, taking part in the 'Firies climb for Motor Neurone'.
"The Full Monty idea came from one of the blokes in our crew." Jeremy Annetts said.
"The stair climb has been going since 2015, but this is the first time the Cootamundra crew will take part."
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive, terminal neurological disease that does not discriminate. Every day in Australia, two people are diagnosed with, and two people die from with this condition, for which there is no known cure and no effective treatment.
Approximately 58% of people with MND are under the age of 65. They progressively lose the use of their limbs and ability to speak, swallow and breathe
"We are doing it because there is no cure for MND." Mr Annetts said.
" It is a bugger of a disease; it seems to affect a lot of people in this community, although it is not a well known disease."
Mr Annetts said the blokes in the crew have come up with a lot of ideas for fundraising; BBQ's, stalls and the like, but they are too hard to organise.
"We are going from one extreme to the other with this fundraising; on November 1 we will take it all off and November 9 we will put it all back on, including 20kg of equipment and breathing apparatus to do the stair climb." Mr Annetts said.
"The Full Monty promises to be a good night. We will have auctions and raffles with some great items up for grabs. We are just six firies looking to raise some support for MND. We are not great dancers, by any means, although we have been having some training from Nadia and Hannah from 'Dance 2590', so hopefully we'll do alright."
Tickets are available for 'The Full Monty' from Cootamundra Ex Services Club at $20 each. To donate to the cause, go to "Firies climb for MND' Facebook page and follow the links.
