Four brave Wanganui youngsters are off to Wellington to compete in the Blue Light Physical Competency Test (PCT) Fear Factor Challenge this weekend.
Connor Hoskin and Genna Maples of Wanganui Intermediate School with Maggie O'Connor and Tomasi Connor of St Anne's School will be competing against around 200 Year 6 and 7 students in the national final.
The team successfully competed in the Wanganui competition last month when they completed physical challenges that police officers face in their duties, like pushing a trailer, climbing through a window, scaling a chain fence, climbing under low hurdles and dragging the equivalent of 75kg body weight with a number of agility runs and sprints in between.
Constables Rob Condor and Robert Dickson who are escorting the team to compete at The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua said the challenges are the same as the ones police officers have to pass.
"The national challenge will include leaping a wall, pushing a trailer, swimming, avoiding obstacles, leaping over fences and through windows.
They will be working against the stopwatch and there will be some unexpected surprises as well," said Mr Condor.
The team will stay at the police college along with all the other teams from around New Zealand.
Blue Light activities include life skills camps, sporting and social activities as a way for police to give back to their communities and develop positive relationships with youth.