My chat with a local - Derek Watson

Derek Watson, volunteer firefighter with Churchill Fire Brigade is entering this year’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb in September. Money raised will aid the fight against cancer, depression and suicide. CD News talks with him on the lead up to this event. 

CD News: Derek, you’re taking on a very arduous event, tell us a little of what it is about and where it all takes place? 

DW: The Melbourne firefighter stair climb is an annual charity event held at the Crown Metropol where firefighters and emergency services personnel descend on 28 floors of stairs wearing up to 25kg of turnout gear. The event replicates the action of a firefighter entering a burning high-rise building in full structural protective clothing while wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. The event is a symbol of the burden of the significant health and wellbeing issues faced by our first responders and their families on a daily basis. The funds raised improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and raise awareness of mental health issues like depression, post-traumatic stress injury and suicide, especially for those within emergency services. 

CDN: What’s involved so far for you to get to this event? 

DW:  So far there has not been too much preparation, mainly focusing on the registration process, booking accommodation because I sure won't be driving home after that run, and organising fundraising to work on building my tally consistently. 

CDN: What support are you getting and what further support do you need? 

DW: So far, I have had great support from friends, loved ones, colleagues and fellow brigade members. As part of my fundraising efforts, I've been collecting bottles and cans to covert to funds that go to my fundraising tally which has been supported by some Churchill community members and organisations. Every little bit counts, so I'm always looking for further support of my fundraising efforts, whether that be a direct financial donation or keeping bottles and cans aside for me to collect and convert. 

CDN: Derek, you took on this event last year. How did you go? What was your time at the top? 

DW: Last year was my first time taking on the stairs head on, I was pretty nervous to start with, looking up at the sheer height of the staircase can be pretty daunting, but I just took a few deep breaths and gave it all I've got. With a couple of short stops to catch my breath, I kept pushing forward, making it to the top in 11 minutes and 3 seconds.  

CDN: Ok, you’re nearing the start line for this event . . . based on last year’s run, how are you feeling, what’s going through your mind? Take us through your thoughts while you are readying for the climb. 

DW: Even before the start line, I spent the whole morning looking at the height of the Crown Metropol, psyching myself up, but the closer you get to the start line, the bigger the nerves get. Your heart is in your stomach, wondering whether you’ll make it to the top. Last year being my first time, I think my main focus and nerves were on whether I can make it through, but now I have my first run, I think the nerves will be a bit bigger, because now I have a standard I have to beat.   

CDN: Can you take us through the run up those flights of stairs? 

DW: Like any run, you start off strong and steady, you’re mentally planning your route, then make it to the stairwell to find you can't create a rhythm because every flight has a different amount of steps, you decide to focus on one step at a time, then when reaching about half way , you start to feel the lactic acid build up in your legs as they get heavier to lift, you start to breath a bit faster as your body heats up under all your firefighter gear. Then when you finally make it near the top and you start to feel like your legs can't lift you any longer, but in front, behind and beside you, you find you’ve got the support of your fellow climbers, the volunteer climb crew cheering you on, just a little bit further, just a couple more steps.  

CDN: Well, you have reached the top, aside from being exhausted, how are you feeling at this point, relieved that it is all finished? What time are you looking for? 

DW: That single moment when you realise the next step is in fact not a step, but a level ground is exhilarating! Rounding the corner to see the arch that says “finish” and you use every ounce of energy you've got left to make a run for it. Crossing that line brings a release of so many feelings . . . exhaustion, pride, relief and an amazing feeling of achievement. As I mentioned earlier, this year the focus is to do better and be better than the time before, but my goal is to reach it in eight minutes, beating my previous time by three minutes.

I'll be sure to let you know how I go with that.