They’re under intense pressure on the daily thanks to their kitchen-centric careers but top chefs Shannon Bennett and Ben Shewry felt a little more heat than they’re used to when they took on the famed today in Melbourne.
“The key is not to count the actual flights of stairs,” e’s head chef Bennett told SBS Food following completion. “But we did have a sneak peek at 70 and thought, ‘oh my god, there’s still another 18 to go!’”
Signing up to run a staggering 88 flights of stairs at Melbourne’s Eureka Tower in support of charities and – Bennett has had a 15-year long history of involvement with the latter – Bennett and Shewry decided to take on the challenge together. While training proved a little difficult for Bennett, who developed flu in the lead up, the two kept their promise of teamwork right until the end of the challenge, originally designed to pit two contestants against each other.
“He basically lowered his speed to run hand-in-hand with me over line,” Bennett said of running ‘rival’ Shewry.
“We agreed that we were going to finish as a team – we’re a team,” Shewry, the recent recipient of the Good Food Guide’s Restaurant of the Year award for his eatery , echoed. “In the kitchen we say, ‘don’t leave anybody behind.’”
The Eureka Climb, which is celebrating its ten-year anniversary, sees competitors climb 1642 steps to bank funds for much-needed surgical procedures, as well as at-risk youth – a cause that Bennett passionately supports and credits with his interest in mentoring young people.
“It makes me a better person to work with Whitelion,” Bennett said.
For Shewry, who’s also a passionate charity support through his ambassadorship for basketball-based not-for-profit , getting involved was about setting an example for others to get behind worthwhile causes.
Ben Shewry (left) and Shannon Bennett before climing the Eureka tower Source: Sam Tabone
“If you consider yourself a leader in the community and somebody comes along with an idea that’s cool and it would be easy for you to support it, I always will,” he explained. “The causes behind these charities are really important so it was a no brainer for me.”
The pair, along with other celebrity racers, took to the stairs today to kick-start the main event; The Eureka Climb challenge, which last year raised more than $260,000, will be held on Sunday.
