'Hitting the wall' is an expression that Ahipara firefighter Joan Natanahira is probably familiar with, although she doesn't seem to do it herself.
Joan, who joined the Ahipara Fire Brigade 11 years ago, has taken part in each of the last three Sky Tower Stair Challenge fundraisers on behalf of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer, starting in 2015, at her fourth attempt at making the cut.
She finished fifth in the master's category that year, and has since been back twice, but now she's set herself a much sterner challenge, the Great Wall of China.
She leaves on September 15 for what she has no doubt will be five gut-busting days, again with the aim of raising funds for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer. Anyone who would like to support her is welcome to do so via the Northland Age.
