Dean Anderson

Climbing for CFA Riddells Creek

I’m raising money this year for one very special reason, and that reason is a man by the name of John Payne. John has been fighting a torturous battle with PTSD since responding to the Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009; and he also happens to be my father-in-law.
Mental health issues like depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide are three very real issues which continue to affect many of Australia’s emergency responders and defense force personnel. John’s 13-year battle has given many of us an insight into the devastating effect these issues can have on somebody’s quality of life. Today we are very fortunate that my wife (Kylie) still has her father to call upon and my children still have their grandfather to look up to, but John’s battle with PTSD is still ongoing and to use his words, ”there is still a lot more that needs to be done” to address the stigma associated with mental illness. This year I’m fundraising because I agree with him… there is a lot more that needs to be done, so please know that every cent you donate goes directly towards the fight against depression, PTSD and suicide.

9/11 Memorial
The Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb remembers the 343 Firefighters that lost their lives in the line of duty on 11th September 2001.

My stair climb race bib will include the name and photo of FDNY Firefighter Edward J White in memory of their sacrifice made on that fateful day. Read more about Edward J White.

So far, I've raised $1,653 of my $1,000 fundraising goal.

Race result

2022$1,653

6:55.217 Donned and started

Start Line Footage!

Crossing the Finish Line

Note: Some of the footage above may not include footage of you due to stream cuts or content changes for operational reasons

Recent donations from Dean’s friends

  • $25
    Liz and Alf
    6 months ago ● Awesome effort Dean for a great cause.

    Thanks very much for your donation Mum and Alf. Much appreciated

  • $25
    Kerryn Payne
    6 months ago

    Hey Kez and Steve, thanks very much for your donation and your support. It was also lovely to hear you watch my climb live on Saturday. Thanks again, Dean xx

  • $25
    Jonathan Arulappen
    6 months ago ● In today's hectic society, these mental health issues are unfortunately on the rise. Thank you for raising awareness and helping such a great cause Dean.

    Thanks very much for your donation and your kind words Jonathan. Very true indeed. Thanks again, Dean

  • $25
    Gill Metz
    6 months ago ● Good luck Dean

    Thanks very much for your donation Gill. It was also really nice to hear you made the time to watch the climb last Saturday and cheer us on. Thanks again, Dean

  • $25
    Bob and Merilyn Sellman
    6 months ago ● Well done Dean in creating this awareness.

    Hi Bob and Merilyn. Thank you very much for your donation, I really appreciate it. It's great to know that you're home too by the way. Looking forward to seeing you soon, Dean

  • $25
    Jo Cooper
    6 months ago ● Well done Dean for raising awareness and support for such an important issue! Best of luck for the climb!

    Hey Jo, thanks very much for your donation and your kind words. The climb went really well thanks, and it was a privilege to be part of it. Cheers, Dean

  • $50
    Su Ann Neo
    6 months ago ● Thanks for what you are doing and all the very best!

    Hi Su Ann, thank you very much for your donation. That was extremely generous and I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Dean

  • $50
    Ruth McDonnell
    6 months ago ● Such an important cause Dean, thank you for all your volunteer work, and good luck with the climb!

    Hey Ruth, thank you very much for your donation and your words of support. That was extremely generous and I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Dean

  • $20
    Noah
    6 months ago ● Great work Deano

    Thanks Noah. Every little bit helps, so thanks for doing your bit. Cheers, Dean

  • $100
    Simon Anderson
    6 months ago

    Wow Simon, thank you very much for your generosity! It really means a lot to receive your donation from across the Tasman. Thanks once again, Dean

  • $25
    Jacquie Ryan
    6 months ago ● Good luck Dean

    Thanks for your support Jacquie! I really appreciate it. Cheers, Dean.

  • $25
    Jan Mulholland
    6 months ago ● Good on you Dean.

    Hi Jan. Thank you very much for your support, it was a lovely surprise. I hope you're doing well. Thanks once again, Dean.

  • $25
    Peter Gossip
    6 months ago ● Good job Dean and great cause

    Thanks very much for your support Pete! Looking forward to you joining Nick and I at next years event ;-)

  • $25
    Kirsty Johns
    6 months ago ● Dean, I couldn't agree with your father-in-law more. The stigma surrounding mental health is real and causes unnecessary additional stress to those of us with these issues. Good luck with the climb.

    Hi Kirsty. Thanks very much for your donation and your kind words. That's very generous of you. Much appreciated, Dean.

  • $50
    Nova
    6 months ago ● Good on you Dean for doing something to raise awareness and supporting such a great cause. All emergency service responders are truly super heroes!

    Wow Nova, thank you very much for your support and for your kind words. Very much appreciated! Thanks so much, Dean

  • $50
    Nina Braid
    6 months ago ● Smash it Dean!

    Hey Nina, thanks very much for your support. It was such a nice surprise and it reminds me how lucky we are to receive such support from the broader YVW family. Cheers, Dean.

  • $25
    Ben Morison
    6 months ago ● Good on you Dean, a great cause.

    Hey Ben, thanks very much for your support. It was such a nice surprise and it makes me appreciate the support we all receive from one another at the YVW family. Cheers, Dean.

  • $50
    Neil Gerhard
    6 months ago ● I hope all goes well for you Dean, both for the effort to climb so many floors and for supporting the fund raising.

    Thanks very much Neil. I really appreciate your support. When I get to those last couple of floors and there's little left in the tank, I'll be thinking of you and everybody else who's supported me. Thanks again Neil, Dean.

  • $50
    Helen Roberts-Ferguson
    6 months ago ● Good luck Dean! A worthy cause indeed...

    Thanks so much Helen! I really appreciate your support. Feeling very grateful. Thank you, Dean.

  • $100
    Aaron Kee
    6 months ago ● Good on you Dean for raising fund to fight against depression, PTSI and suicide

    Wow Aaron, that's so generous of you. Thank you for your very kind words as well. Much appreciated, Dean

  • $50
    Josh Hale
    6 months ago ● All the best for the climb Dean! A very worthy cause. Thanks for all you do for our community.

    Thanks so much for your support and your kind words Josh. It really means a lot. Thanks again, Dean.

  • $25
    Ross Mallinson
    6 months ago ● Incredible effort Dean and for a great cause.

    Wow Ross, thanks very much for your support. I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Dean.

  • $50
    Michael Harding
    6 months ago ● All the best. It a great cause. I don't believe that we can ever do enough to support emergency service responders and defence force personnel through the challenges that they face a a result of their service to the community and country.

    Thanks very much for your donation and your reflect Mick. Such very wise words which I really do agree with. I'm sure your donation will help to make a difference. Cheers, Dean.

  • $50
    Alec Wood
    6 months ago ● Great work Dean. Incredibly worthwhile cause!

    Thanks very much for your donation and your support Alec, I really appreciate it.

  • $50
    Kylie Anderson
    6 months ago ● The girls and I are so proud of you! You've got this!!xoxo

    Thank you bub. I'm looking forward to you and the girls being there on the day. Your support really means a lot to me xxx

  • $50
    Anne-Maree Scown
    6 months ago ● All the best for the climb Dean

    Hi Anne-Maree. Thanks very much for your donation. It came as a very welcome surprise and I'm incredibly grateful for your support. Have a great day and hoping to catch you, Brian and the tribe soon, Dean.

  • $25
    Ugyen Choden
    6 months ago ● I was telling some guests from out of town about this while we were sightseeing in the city a few weeks ago :) All the best Dean!

    Hey Ugyen, thank you very much for your support. How funny that you happened to see this recently in the city! Have a great day and thanks again, Dean

  • $50
    Matt Morris
    6 months ago

    Hi Matt. Thanks very much for your donation. It came as a very welcome surprise and I'm incredibly grateful for your support. Have a great day, Dean.

  • $25
    Adam Smith
    6 months ago ● Best of luck with the climb Dean, great effort for a great cause!

    Thanks Adam. I've really admired your involvement with this cause over the years and I have very clear memories of you training at YVW and raising awareness across the YVW family. Consider yourself a a key piece of my inspiration for signing up this year. Thanks very much again Adam, Dean.

  • $50
    James Martin
    6 months ago ● You are a legend Dean! great work and all the best for your climb Mental health is a great cause, and we owe it to our firefighters here in Australia who do a tremendous job a responding in times of danger to help keep our communities safe!

    Hey James. Thank you very much. I reckon your kind words are just as special as the donation itself and what you said really means a lot to me. Very very grateful for your support mate. Cheers, Dean

  • $25
    Kathryn Naylor
    6 months ago ● Hope this helps get you up a few more stairs...

    Thanks so much Kathryn. If I find myself struggling up the last floor or two, I'll be thinking of you and Ash as my extra boost to get me to the top. Thanks again, Dean

  • $50
    Caillan Smith
    6 months ago ● Awesome job Dean and good luck tackling those steps! Thanks for raising awareness for such an important issue.

    Thanks very much for your donation and your kind words Caillan, I really appreciate it.

  • $50
    James Box
    6 months ago ● Good on you Dean for tackling this and raising funds and awareness for mental health! All the best for the climb

    Thanks very much for your donation and your kind words James, I really appreciate it.

  • $100
    Christopher Puschak
    6 months ago ● Good luck with the climb Dean - that is a great climb. John’s book and his story have helped me with my own struggles, and I am grateful to him. Here’s hoping that research can assist all emergency responders dealing with PTSD.

    Wow Chris, thank you very much for your donation. Seeing your generous donation last week was such a well timed boost for my morale. I'm extremely grateful for your support Chris.

  • $10
    Sam McCardell
    6 months ago ● Great work Dean. Love to you all from England 👍

    Thanks very much for making a donation Sam, especially all the way from the UK. Much appreciated, Deano.

  • $25
    Nick Tschuck
    7 months ago ● Good onya Deano, lets do this.

    Thanks very much for getting my donation tally off to a good start Nick. Really looking forward to racing up the stairs beside you. Thank you so much for also being my catalyst and my source of inspiration to sign up.