A FORMER Okehampton College student has raised more than £10,000 in support of those battling leukaemia.
Bratton Clovelly-born Tom Heywood, who now lives in New Zealand and works as a voluntary fireman, climbed up 51 flights of stairs while wearing 25 kilograms of kit in order to raise money for charity.
The annual Sky Tower Stair Challenge saw more than 900 firefighters take on 1,103 steps in a bid to raise funds for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
As part of the Central Hawke’s Bay Tamatea Rural Fire Force, Tom took on the challenge with team-mate Mike Bennie.
Together they raised $21,505 (£11,453), placing them eighth on the leader board overall for the amount raised.
In their category of teams made up of two to five people, the pair walked away with second place for amount raised as well as a trophy for overall fundraising per number of members.
Tom alone raised $19,192 (£10,222) putting him fourth on the overall leader board and third in his category.
‘It was an amazing experience,’ said Tom.
‘What I have done for six months and then the 15 minutes of agony from the challenge was insignificant to what people who are diagnosed with cancer go through. I would do it all again in a heartbeat knowing I am helping these people.’
Tom’s family friend Nancy was diagnosed with leukaemia four months ago and with the photo of her on his back he dug deep and charged to the top.
He also carried pictures of his dad, Roger Heywood, and his best mate Rob Prideaux, who both sadly passed away.
‘The heat was phenomenal and it was incredibly hard but I thought of Nancy and just pushed on.’
Tom also carried pictures of his dad, Roger Heywood, and his best mate Rob Prideaux, who both sadly passed away.
He said he was extremely grateful to all those who had sponsored him. He also expressed thanks to his family, friends and wife Rebecca for their ongoing support while he trained for the past six months.
Tom’s mum Judith Heywood, from Bratton Clovelly, said: ‘I am ever so proud of him and everything he has achieved.’