Community & Business
3 September, 2026
Gil Firies Complete Climb for MND
Gilgandra Fire and Rescue team joined the annual Firies Climb for MND
By Molly Shannon
Gilgandra Fire and Rescue Station 300 braved the Furber Steps in the Blue Mountains on Saturday, August 29 where they joined the Firies Climb for Motor Neuron Disease (MND).
MND has recently been thrust back into the spotlight after famed rugby league player, Jai Arrow, was diagnosed with the degenerative disease in May this year.
It is estimated that around 2800 Australians were living with MND last year, and was the underlying cause of 781 deaths in 2023.
MND is used to describe a group of disease that affect nerve cells known as ‘motor neurons’.
Motor neurons communicate between the brain and muscles via the spinal cord and contribute to movements like walking, swallowing, breathing, and talking.
There is currently no cure for the disease, and according to MND Australia the current life expectancy for those diagnosed is two-to-three-years from diagnosis.
Early signs of MND may include stumbling due to weakness of the leg or foot muscles, trouble holding objects due to weakness in shoulder or hand muscles, or slurring of speech or swallowing problems due to weakness in tongue and throat muscles.
The Firies Climb for MND began in 2015 after fire fighter Matt Pridham’s best friend was diagnosed with the disease.
Since then it has morphed into a large charity that focuses on raising money for research into MND.
Six fire fighter from Gilgandra’s Fire and Rescue station took part in this year’s climb, including captain Damien Jordan, Grant Zell, Bryce Budworth, Troy Jones, Lachlan Briggs, and Lewis Dobson.
Damien and Grant took part in the climb eight years ago in 2018, managing to raise $14,000 for the cause.
After the recent news of Jai Arrow, the team were inspired to join back up and see how they can go this year.
“Talking to the boys at the station, they were keen to get on board and do something and I guess with the diagnosis of Jai Arrow, I think it’s put MND back in the spotlight,” Damien said.
“So any way we could help, we wanted to,” he said.
On Saturday, July 25, Gilgandra Fire and Rescue held a raffle to raise money for the cause, auctioning off a trailer of chopped wood, three meat trays, and four drink tickets. The night was a success with the team selling over 550 tickets and raising a little over $1800 contributing to their main fundraiser. Working together to raise money for MND has brought the already “close-knit” team closer together said Damien, who believes that good can only come from good.
“We’re a pretty close-knit station, but doing something as good as this can only do good when it gets us closer together,” Damien said.
“We were there pushing each other to get through it and pushing each other to try and see who can fundraise the most,” he said.
Team training leading up to the climb was simple, yet effective with the team using whatever they had at their disposal.
They opted to do the climb in full fire and rescue gear, adding roughly 20 kilos on to themselves.
“Running up and down the grandstand and walking or running along the Windmill Walk track has been our main training,” said Damien.
“[Full kit is] optional, but I think we’ve all opted to wear it so, it makes that a little bit more harder with the extra weight, you’ve got to lug up and down the stairs,” he said.
Support for the Firies Climb for MND has been overwhelming, with many looking forward to get behind a good cause.
The team completed the climb in high spirits and raised a total of $12,000.
“I just want to thank everyone who donated to us,” said Damien.
