Step Up for MSWA 2025

Step Up for MSWA 2025 – Every Step Told a Story

On Sunday, June 22nd, the steps of Central Park Tower in Perth became more than just concrete and steel — they became a stage for courage, connection, and community.

Under cloudy skies with occasional blue, with 696 participants lacing up and looking skyward, Step Up for MSWA 2025 delivered another unforgettable event in support of West Australians living with neurological conditions.

From the youngest mini climbers to elite athletes and emergency responders hauling 30kg packs, every single person brought something powerful to the tower — a story, a reason, a purpose.

Climbs for Every Type of Warrior

Step Up for MSWA has something for everyone — whether you’re chasing a PB, climbing for the first time, or pushing your limits like never before.

The Mini Climb – 22 Flights (477 stairs)

A fun and welcoming intro for kids aged 6+, families and first-timers. It wasn’t just adorable — it was inspiring.
We watched pint-sized participants charge up the stairwell with parents in tow, wide-eyed and determined.

One mum shared, “It’s such a delight to introduce my son to stair climbing.”
Her son? A future champion in the making: “That was awesome. But next year… I’m doing the full climb. Not enough steps!”

One Up – The Core Challenge

For those ready to tackle the whole tower once, this was the ultimate single-shot climb. Leg-burning, lung-busting, but oh-so-rewarding.

Double Up – Twice the Tower

Two full climbs with a break in between. The faster your first climb, the more time you had to recover… before heading up again.

Multi Climb – Go Big or Go Again

The ultimate test of endurance. Climbers chose their own tally — three times, four, or even more — all completed between 8am and 11am.

Race Results That Raised the Roof

Elite performances brought fire to the stairwell, and the battle for podium finishes was fierce:

Top 3 Female Finishers
Eveline De Jong – 9:59.2
Tracy Wild – 10:16.9
Clare Wardle – 10:22.7

Top 3 Male Finishers
Colin Ottaway – 8:30.5
Tych McSwain – 8:44.8
David Hall – 8:46.4

And let’s not gloss over this: Colin Ottaway didn’t stop after winning. He climbed the entire tower SIXTEEN times — a feat of endurance, strength, and sheer stair madness!

Stair Climbing Australia Legends: Janet & Kevin

Representing Stair Climbing Australia with grit and heart:

Janet Goodwin climbed the tower 8 times, steady and strong, always with her signature mix of humility and hustle.
Kevin Thompson smashed out 4 climbs, clocking in a performance that showed his true dedication to the sport.

Janet and Kevin are more than just strong climbers. They’re the spirit of our community — loyal, passionate, and the kind of people you want beside you in every stairwell. We salute them.

Service Personnel – Climbing with Purpose

A powerful highlight of the day was the presence of service personnel from across WA.

Volunteer fire brigades from regional areas and local fire and rescue teams climbed in full gear, hauling 25–30kg packs up dozens of flights.

Police officers and emergency services followed, also in full uniform, climbing with unwavering determination.

Their strength, solidarity, and visible support for the cause were nothing short of inspiring — and earned well-deserved cheers all the way up.

Schoolyard Bragging Rights & High-Speed Climbing

Energy levels were off the charts thanks to local school students competing for glory.

Kids raced up stairwells two steps at a time, bouncing off the walls with excitement. You could hear their laughter, their cheering — and their heavy breathing.

One was overheard gasping, “I thought this was going to be easy…”

Their spirit was contagious, and we can’t wait to see this next generation of stair climbers grow into the sport.

Costumes, Characters, and Climbing for Fun

Let’s hear it for the heroes in tights and overalls!

The fancy dress climb brought joy and flair to the tower:
Batman patrolling the stairs.
The Mario Brothers racing for power-ups.
And plenty of other colourful characters climbing with grins as wide as the stairwell.

You don’t need to set a record to make an impact — sometimes it’s your costume that gives others the courage to keep going.

Donation Wall – A Touch of Heart

The Donation Wall was a beautiful tribute to the community behind the climb. Lined with the names of generous donors, it reminded us that every step taken was backed by love, support, and purpose.

Volunteers – The Beating Heart of the Event

Every climber had a personal cheer squad in the form of our incredible volunteers.

From pumping up nervous first-timers to handing out water, medals, and high-fives, their encouragement lifted everyone’s spirits. Their energy was contagious and their dedication unmatched — we couldn’t have done it without them..

“Wait… There’s an Association for Stairs?!”

One of our favourite quotes of the day:
"Wow — I didn’t know there was an actual association for stair climbing!"

We heard it over and over again.

Yes, Stair Climbing Australia exists — and we’re growing fast. We’re here to support, promote, and celebrate stair climbing as a sport, a fitness challenge, and a welcoming community.

If you saw our shirts and thought, “That looks fun,” — join us. You don’t have to be an elite athlete. You just have to show up, climb your climb, and be part of something great.

Together, We Raised $182,834 for MSWA

Every step taken this year helped raise an incredible $182,834 for MSWA — supporting West Australians living with MS, MND, Parkinson’s, stroke, Huntington’s, and other neurological conditions.

These funds provide essential care, support, equipment, and ground-breaking research — giving hope to thousands of people across WA.

Thank you to every climber, donor, volunteer, and sponsor who made it possible. You made your steps count.