XRACE in Tauranga no barrier for 8-year-old Jahnal

"Three … two … one" echoes around Mt Drury Reserve and then the start buzzer sounds with 8-year-old Jahnal at the front of the pack, flanked by three burly firemen and her foster mum.

Jahnal has cerebral palsy and a brain injury and is sitting in a wheelchair pushed by Tauranga's Andrew Woodward, a professional fireman for the Kawerau Brigade.

Shannen Lunam wanted her foster daughter Jahnal to participate in the NZHL XRACE like everyone else so they travelled to Mount Maunganui yesterday from Rotorua to make it happen.

"I emailed them [the organisers] and asked if [Jahnal] would be able to partake in her chair and they said that if we needed to we could get some guys to come and help her," Shannen, 29, said.

A call for help went out on the XRACE Facebook page and Woodward was tagged in the post. He jumped on board and roped in a couple of guys from work.

Shannen said Jahnal's body did not work properly on the right side and she also struggled to understand things another 8-year-old might.

"So she can't do most of this stuff."

But that was no reason for her not to take part.

"I think for us it's everything for her to be able to participate, whether or not she understands fully what's going on. I think it's a really cool opportunity for her to participate in society the way other 8-year-olds would."

Shannen Lunam with her foster daughter Jahnal, 8, at the XRACE event in Mount Maunganui yesterday. Photo / George Novak

Shannen and her wife, Jackie Lunam, 33, took Jahnal in as their foster daughter in July 2016.

Jackie said it was important people with special needs were more active in the community "because they're so hidden".

"The more they're out there, the more normal they become. They don't stand out."

Just under 1300 people took part in the XRACE event yesterday.

The family mystery adventure race involves family teams made up of one parent/relative or family friend and one child, aged between 6 and 14, having to locate and complete 10 mystery challenges while racing the clock and other teams.

The challenges range from physical to mental to knowledge-based activities.

Mt Drury Reserve was buzzing, packed with families all dressed in the issued red and navy XRACE shirts.

It was the fourth year the event, which also included a Nippers Challenge for those aged 6 and under, had come to Tauranga.

Local firemen (from left) Joel McNickle, Karne Gough and Andrew Woodward helped 8-year-old Jahnal take part in the XRACE event in Mount Maunganui yesterday. Photo / George Novak

Woodward, 31, said it was good to be able to help out someone with a disability and help them be included.

"Just helping her have fun, giving her the same opportunities as everyone else."

His Kawerau Fire Brigade colleagues Joel McNickle, 27, and Karne Gough, 26 – who both live in Papamoa – were there to add a bit of extra muscle.

With the XRACE challenges taking teams over sand and up Mt Drury, some lifting and manoeuvring was going to be needed.

Shannen had no doubt they would "nail it".

"Of course, there's no other option is there? It'll be fun. Cheers to the XRACE team for sorting this out for us today. It's cool."