The event has a total of 700 participants and has grown in awareness and fundraising achievement to be an iconic event recognised around the country. Firefighters participate from around New Zealand, Australia and the USA, competing in a race up 51 flights, or 1,103 Sky Tower steps with participants wearing full firefighting kit weighing 25kg.

The Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge taking place on May 17 2014, is now in its tenth year as a fundraiser for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).