On Saturday, October 14, Junee retained fireman and Wagga Police Inspector Robert Vergano climbed 1504 stairs, up 98 floors in a time of 18 minutes and 10 seconds, which is 1.10 minutes faster than last year.

More importantly, Inspector Vergano raised $6,101, more than $1,000 above his original target, to become the 14^th highest fundraiser out of nearly 600 entrants. 

Firefighters Climb for Motor Neurone Disease Organiser Matt Pridham said every dollar raised will directly support vital research at the Macquarie University MND Centre.

“Rob is representative of a lot of firies who have put in a massive effort by engaging in the local community for MND, but he is putting in extra yards by being a firie and a police officer,” Mr Pridham said.

“Rob is obviously passionate about the cause and there has been a huge personal effort shown by him, and hundreds of other firies, to help the community,” he said.

Following the Saturday climb in Sydney, Inspector Vergano drove back to Wagga to make the MND walk around Lake Albert on Sunday morning.

“All I can say is I was inspired by my cousin Sharn and others who have MND, and I was motivated by the financial support I’ve received from family and businesses,” Inspector Vergano said.

“It’s $6,000 closer to finding a cure, and paying for a scientist to stay back that extra hour or so which could be the difference,” Inspector Vergano said. 

The Sydney Tower Climb has so far raised $571,256.39 to fund research into Motor Neurone Disease.

MND is a progressive, terminal neurological disease. MND affects the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow, causing them the degenerate and die. A person’s senses and intellect are not affected.

There is no treatment and no cure however Professor Dominic Rowe from Macquarie University says money raised is funding world-first trials into stopping Motor Neurone Disease.

“One of the trials is now completed, called the Lighthouse Trial, and we are doing the analysis,

“This world’s first trial looks like its helped to slow Motor Neurone Disease in at least a proportion of our patients who are on the medication,” Professor Dominic Rowe said.

“We’re very excited about this work and we’re collaborating with other researchers in London, Adelaide and North America to try and understand why some patients respond to this therapy and other patients don’t.”

Other trials are currently underway which researchers hope will stop this disease.