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1 May 2002
Glenfield mother of seven Jo Marshall was one of the first members
of the public to climb Auckland Sky Tower's steel mast structure, emerging
at an open-air crow's nest, 300 metres above sea-level - the highest man-made
viewing platform in the southern hemisphere.
In the process she raised over $1,200 for World Vision's 40 Hour Famine.
Jo made the climb during the official opening of the climb (April 22)
by way of an internal ladder system.
She says until her Sky Tower escapade she had no climbing experience
and a previous trudge to the top of Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa left
her feeling dizzy and sick.
But she says nothing was going to put her off.
"People said I must be nuts and I said of course I am," she
says.
Jo says the climb left her with sore arms and hands but the view from
the top and sense of achievement were "just awesome".
Jo got the idea for the climb when she heard adventure company Vertigo
planned organised trips up the mast.
Vertigo operations manager Andrew Gregory says the company was delighted
to hear from Jo, and allowed her to be amongst the first to make the climb
in recognition that her effort was for a charitable cause. Vertigo also
waived the $95 fee and chipped in for Jo's fundraising effort.
Mr Gregory says the crow's nest can experience movement at high wind
speeds but Jo
wore a full body harness and was attached to a safety cable system at
all times.
Jo says work mates at Albany's Pak 'n Save and friends at St Thomas More
Catholic Church all sponsored her to make the climb.
The YMCA in Northcote also helped out and designed a fitness programme
to assist Jo to meet the challenge.
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