By Paul Dobbyn
NEW Zealander Jordon Milroy was born with cerebral palsy, but that didn’t stop him joining 1098 people climbing 77 floors to the top of the Gold Coast’s Q1 to raise nearly $88,000 for Rosies.
Rosies volunteer Daniel Lato said it had been “a positive experience for everyone” to see 25-year-old Mr Milroy reach the top of Q1 after almost 53 minutes.
The quickest time to the top was just under seven minutes.
“It would have been tough for Jordon, but he was very determined,” Mr Lato said. “It was really special for all of us present when he crossed the line.
“The key thing about the event was the broad range of people who took part in the climb – from professional athletes to people who just wanted to challenge themselves.
“One chap enjoyed it so much he did it five times.”
Top fundraisers were father-son duo Adam and Ryan Tonakie, generating a combined total of almost $4000.
Rosies fundraising manager Wayne Evans said the funds from the inaugural Q1 Skypoint Sea to Sky Stair Climb on February 22 had come at a crucial time.
“Winter always puts a big call on our services,” he said. “It’s a time when homeless people do it particularly tough.”
Mr Evans said approval had been given by Q1’s body corporate to hold the event for another two years.
He thanked Skypoint’s manager Paul Callender for contacting Rosies to offer them the opportunity of being the charity to benefit from the event.
“Paul became interested in the situation of the homeless around Q1 a while back,” he said. “At first, he organised a monthly breakfast for some of them at Skypoint, then he approached us when the go-ahead was given for the climb.”
Rosies general manager Andrew O’Brien also did the climb.
“I took several times longer than the quickest,” he said.
“I hope to be quite a bit fitter and faster for next year’s event.
“The main thing is it was a great day, both for increasing Rosies profile and for raising funds ahead of a time of great need for Queensland’s homeless.”
