ACT firefighters prepare to climb Mount Everest, but in Canberra

Firefighter Mick Bailey-Price admits he finds the final climb up Mount Ainslie during the annual Ainslie to Everest events pretty excruciating.

But about three quarters of the way up the mountain his kids join him, he draws heavily on the energy of his teammates and he focuses on the cold beer waiting for him at the top. Not to mention the fact that every step he takes could help save a life.

Mick is one of 25 ACT Fire and Rescue firefighters taking part in the Ainslie to Everest event on Saturday 26 October 2024 to raise critical awareness of, and funds for, Lifeline Canberra. The challenge is to climb the elevation of Mount Everest on the Mount Ainslie trail. To achieve this, five teams of firefighters will walk eight laps of Mount Ainslie, for a total of 40 laps, which represents 8,000m: the height of Mount Everest.

Ainslie to Everest was conceived in 2022 by firefighter Sean Guinard, who was grieving the loss of two friends to suicide. It didn’t take Sean long to convince fellow firefighters in Canberra to get on board and raise funds for Lifeline Canberra.

“Give us a chance to raise money that includes a physical challenge and we’re in,” Mick laughs.

“But honestly, there’s definitely a synergy between what Lifeline Canberra does and what emergency services do in providing that frontline support in times of crisis.

“When we’re called out to a job, most of the time people are having the worst day of their lives, whether it's a bad car crash, a small car crash, a fire or they've lost their house to fire: it's often someone's worst day.

“It’s part of the job.

“And professionally, it takes its toll on our mental health too. Lifeline Canberra is just one of the tools that’s available to us as well, if we’re having a hard time.”

The first Ainslie to Everest event in 2022 raised $55,000. Last year, that figure grew to $60,000. This year, ACT Fire and Rescue is hoping to raise $70,000; enough funding for Lifeline Canberra to service around 2,500 calls. For every $26 donated, Lifeline Canberra can help save one more life.

In the 2022/23 financial year, Lifeline Canberra received 31,172 calls, providing 16,529 hours of crisis support. Of the calls received, 3,572 callers were experiencing suicidal thoughts and worked with a crisis supporter to keep safe.

Ainslie to Everest kicks off at 6am for the firefighters taking part. From 10am, the public can head to the top of the mountain to tour a fire engine, meet fire and ambulance mascots, as well as ACT SES and ACT Rural Fire Service staff, and grab a free coffee from the Zango coffee van. (Your coffee is on us, but we are also accepting donations for those who want to donate.)

The final lap is expected to be completed at the top of the mountain at 2pm.

Here at Zango, we’re thrilled to be on board as event sponsor and to have our coffee van at the top of Mount Ainslie between 8am and 12 noon. You can donate money via the Zango coffee vans attending this and next weekends' auctions.

“Thanks to Zango, Lifeline Canberra will be able to fund more than 125 phone calls to help people in crisis,” Mick says.

“The sponsors who’ve come on board have been amazing and will make a huge difference to how much we can actually raise.”

For the first time ever, Ainslie to Everest will have a presence in local cafes via the ‘Coffee for a Mate’ initiative. Canberrans can buy a ‘metaphorical’ coffee at the time they purchase their own coffee, or place change in a converted fire hydrant near the counters.

Cafes taking part in ‘Coffee for a Mate’ include the Zango coffee vans, U&CO in Kaleen, Deakin & Me in Deakin, Barton grocer, Bottega (also in Barton), Brew and Brew in the city and Margot Wine and Espresso Bar (by the lake).

Zango’s Brand and Marketing Manager Andrew Sherer says ACT Fire and Rescue’s commitment and passion for supporting a good cause is inspiring.

“Their essential resources and dedication extend well beyond emergency services,” Andrew says.

“Their support of Lifeline Canberra in the Ainslie to Everest encapsulates the literal mountain to climb for those needing mental health support services and that the availability of a quick first response by phone or a coffee for a mate is a vital first step.

“And with hundreds of thousands of ensuing steps ahead of the teams as they climb the elevation of Mount Everest, Zango is proud to support their fundraising efforts as colleagues, friends and mates – putting one foot in front of the other in support of each other and Lifeline Canberra for the capital’s mental health.”

Ainslie to Everest fundraising event, Saturday 26 October 2024, top of Mount Ainslie from 10am (event concludes at 2pm). Donate to Ainslie to Everest's Team Zango now at gofundraise