Chopped finger no barrier to Paihia firefighter

Paihia firefighter Tanya Bijl in hospital after almost chopping off a finger. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

A Paihia firefighter is hoping an accident in which she almost chopped off her own finger won't derail her quest to become the fastest woman in the country up Auckland's Sky Tower today.

Tanya Bijl will be among more than 800 firefighters taking part in the Sky Tower Challenge, which involves running up the landmark's 1103 steps while weighed down with 25kg of firefighting gear and breathing from an air tank. This year's challenge has already raised more than $1.1 million for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.

Miss Bijl took part in 2014 and 2015, clocking the best time of any Northland woman and finishing sixth overall in her category in 2014 and third in 2015.

This year the 32-year-old is aiming to be first by cracking a time of 13 minutes 30 seconds, her previous record is 15m 19s, and she has been preparing by sprinting up the Opua stairs, training in the gym, and running "hard out" on the treadmill in full firefighting gear.

It was going well until she was unwrapping a new kitchen knife two weeks ago and almost sliced a finger off. The cut went to the bone.

Miss Bijl was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital, then to Whangarei for surgery to rejoin the severed nerves and tendons.

Her training schedule took a hit from the accident and subsequent surgery, and with one hand still in a splint it means she needs help to get her firefighting gear on. She can't fit a glove on her injured hand so is hoping that doesn't get her disqualified.

Starting 20 seconds behind her and urging her on will be fellow Paihia firefighter Jonny Greener, the fastest Northlander up the tower in 2015.

"I don't know how it will go but I get a lot of support, from friends here and family in Holland, and I get a lot of strength from that."

The challenge also had extra meaning for her this year. Miss Bijl's grandfather, Joop Schreuder, died when she was 8 years old but the cause was kept from her at the time. Just last year her mother told her her Opa (granddad) had died of luekaemia.

"So I'll be dedicating this run to him," she said.

Northland brigades taking part this year are Ahipara, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Kaiwaka, Kamo, Kawakawa, Kerikeri, Ngunguru, Onerahi, Paihia and Ruakaka.