Team Anatomically Correct at the Stadium Climb Challenge on Sunday (from left) Kathryn McClea, Eric Lord, Deanna Barwick, Upendra Bhattarai, Zin Khant Aung, Rosie Khant Aung, Lisa Matisoo-Smith and Josh Houlton.
Josh Houlton smiles through the Challenge.
A group of staff in Otago's Department of Anatomy are this week sporting a sense of achievement, and also sore calf muscles, after taking part in Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's Stadium Climb Challenge at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday.
The group, made up of staff and postgraduate students and named “Anatomically Correct”, took on the physically (and sometimes mentally) demanding challenge of stepping up and down every aisle in the three main stands of the stadium over three laps – that's over 5,200 steps.
One of the team members, Body Bequest Liaison Officer Kathryn McClea, says it was really tough.
“The Speights stand and Mitre 10 stand weren't too bad, but the North stand was a killer! It is so steep. It has nine aisles so we had to walk up and down them nine times for every lap.”
Launched in 2018, Stadium Climb sees hundreds of Kiwis conquer either Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin or Westpac Stadium in Wellington in support of blood cancer patients and their families.
All funds raised in Dunedin stay in the Otago region to provide support for patients and their families, as well as education and research to find a cure.
"It gives us a good sense of community spirit as well. It's good to be part of the wider Dunedin community."
The Anatomy team raised over $1,500 via donations and by providing home-baked goods for staff and students to purchase for morning tea ahead of the Climb.
Ms McClea says they felt great being able to contribute in a small way to a charity which provides help and support for those who need it.
“Anatomy is such a large department – events like this are an opportunity to get together with workmates who we otherwise would probably not get to meet. It's amazing how many times you see someone in the hallway and smile at them but you don't know their name, then you find they are part of the team and all of a sudden you have this common link and the next time you see them that smile becomes a “hello how are you doing”.
“It gives us a good sense of community spirit as well. It's good to be part of the wider Dunedin community.”
The team is currently sitting in sixth place in the fundraising stakes – and it's not too late to donate. Click here to make a contribution.