On 7th September 2019, GB team members participated in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb. Alongside 600 Firefighters, they climbed up 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel wearing 25kg of turnout gear and breathing apparatus to help the Metropolitan Fire Brigade fight depression, PTSI and Suicide.

The aim of the event was to raise 700,000 for the Emergency Services Foundation, Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute. The donations will be used to improve support services, fund research, remove stigmas and build awareness of Mental health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Injury and suicide, especially for those within the Defence and Emergency Service communities.

Over 3,000 Australians die by suicide every year, and 373 members of the ADF took their own lives between 2001 and 2016.

GB raised over $3500 through fundraising, tin shaking in Melbourne CBD, and in-house donations from GB team members.

The GB team consisted of Stephanie Connolly - Claims Operations Manager, Elisha Garipidis - Business Account Manager, Blake Dalton - Claims Team Manager and Brett Burnham - Client Relationship Manager.

Brett Burnham, was really pleased to be supporting such a worthwhile cause:

“Being involved with the MFB stair climb and fundraising was personally a really rewarding experience. Our team were very honoured to be able to compete with the real firefighters, and to contribute to the event through our company sponsorship, but also the fundraising activity, from tin rattling in the CBD, to online fundraising and then walking the floors of GB and getting the staffs generous donations.

Such important causes being supported – Lifeline, Black Dog Institute and the Emergency Services Foundation. We are looking forward to continuing our support for many years to come.”

Donations are still open and can be accessed via https://www.firefighterclimb.org.au/