I'm taking part in the Pink Ribbon Walks for the nine women diagnosed with breast cancer each day in New Zealand.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Kiwi women. 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. And 650 women in Aotearoa die from the disease every year.

That’s why I’m taking part in the Pink Ribbon Walk this year, to help change that.

Please donate to raise funds for life-saving education, life-changing patient support and ground-breaking medical research. And bring us closer to a day when there are zero deaths from breast cancer.

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My activity tracking

Walked

12kms

My goal

5kms

My Impact

Keeping our breast nurses out and about in the pink campervan for 25 hours, thanks to you!

Funds raised over the years

My Updates

20 October 2024

We did it!!

We ate the ice creams, completed the 5km walk, and best of all raised much needed funds for the Breast Cancer foundation. What a great feeling! Time for a good nights sleep now! Thank you all for coming along for the journey.

17 October 2024

My ‘backers’ 2024

It’s not too late to make a donation to the Pink Ribbon Walk 2024. If you make a donation to my page, your name will be added as one of my ‘backers’ (your name will be added onto the back of my t-shirt). My ‘backers’ are those wonderful people who will be walking with me in spirit, those that have my back, and who are encouraging me to take one step at a time…

16 October 2024

We can make a difference

16 October 2024

What difference can I really make?

I’ve often felt I have made no contribution to this world. I’m no great architect, scientist, activist, or politician. My name is not plastered on billboards or written in the pages of history, I haven’t had my 15 seconds of fame. When I’m gone no one will ever know I existed. What difference have I made to our world or to mankind? What difference can one person make, or even 5 people? The above photo is of the top fundraisers for the Christchurch Pink Ribbon Walk 2024. Five women, who are going through, gone through or know someone affected by breast cancer. Five women who were brave enough to share their stories and hope that they could make a difference to the future lives of women and men in New Zealand. At the moment Five women have raised $12,698 dollars for the Breast Cancer Foundation, that’s massive!! $12,698!!!! I actually feel like I’ve made a difference, I’ve put my name forward and said ‘I want to make a difference, I want to change what’s currently happening to so many men and women. Every cent raised by all of you genoursly giving, is and will make a difference. You have all allowed me to make a difference, to be acknowledged and contribute to this campaign and to New Zealand's future in regards to Breast Cancer. Thank you so much!! Look at what we’ve managed to do, be proud as I am of making that difference together!

13 October 2024

Our achievements

Thank you all so much for getting behind me as I’m trying to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation. I was thinking this morning’Do what you can, while you can’. I’m in the while you can stage of life now…so I’m doing the Pink Ribbon Walk, I’m doing my best to raise funds, and I’ll find the courage somehow to wear my pink costume 💕😂

13 October 2024

20th of October 2024

There is still time to get your ticket to do the 5km or 10 km walk. There is also time to fundraise yourself or donate to my fundraising page. It’s exactly a week away now…just finished all the prep to my pink costume 💕😂🥰👍🏻

7 October 2024

I am so Thankful for today, and so Thankful to each and everyone of you for supporting this fundraiser and for being there for me each and every day in a variety of ways.

1 October 2024

Memories

Memories are so precious. I’m going to continue to create them, be apart of them, and be grateful for them 😊

1 October 2024

Thank you

Thank you from all the me’s over my life, to each and everyone of you that has found the time to donate 🥰

30 September 2024

Bittersweet

This photo was taken last November. Emotionally I was struggling smiling for this. I was totally overcome with such a mixture of joy and deep, deep sadness.

We were at Jelly Park pool for a swim competition. It was before the competition had started that I realised that this was the pool that my daughter had her very first swim in.

I have photos of her here as a baby, absolutely loving the water. Now here she was part of a swimming club, representing that club at this competition. That was the joy part. I was so proud of her, and so happy to be able to be there with her and for her ❤️.

I had just been told I had cancer, I hadn’t been told my official diagnosis, I didn’t know what treatments I would have to go through or if I would be at another swim meet ever again.

Such sadness was just flooding me in that moment. I love my kids so much and to think that I wouldn’t be part of this anymore was so sad to me.

I tried really hard to not look like my whole world was falling down around me in that moment, but gosh it was hard. I tried to distract myself with other thoughts and eventually I was rescued as the meet needed more time keeper, so I definitely volunteered for that!!

January there was another meet this time in Temuka where I was Team manager. That was the last meet before my treatment started.

I think we’ve had another two during the year. One meet I got out of hospital, went straight home, packed our bags then a drive to Timaru for a three day away meet. That was tough!

My daughters missed out on quite a few meets this year, and swim training because I just didn’t have the energy for this like I use to.

This last weekend was a big three day meet at our clubs pool. With our club hosting there were raffle tickets to sell, items for raffle boxes to buy, and sign up sheets for volunteer jobs at the meet.

I managed everything and volunteered as a Timekeeper Friday night, served food Saturday and gave myself a day off on Sunday as I knew I’d need it.

I walked around 6kms all up on the weekend.

My jobs required quite a bit of movement.

It was a big weekend for me, and I feel like I accomplished a lot as part of my pink Ribbon Walk prep. Knowing I have the walk coming up gives me more drive to look for opportunities where I can move.

My hairs started to grow back, so this was a beanie free meet for me. It takes a lot of courage to go out in public (this was a huge meet too), not looking how you feel your best.

I just tried to keep busy so I didn’t have time to focus on what I must be looking like.

I truly hope I have more swim meets and more swim training sessions to watch in my future. I’m not looking forward to the day when I just can’t or won’t have the strength to push myself anymore.

I hope my daughter will remember these times in her life, with her biggest supporter cheering her on 🥰

I hope she will say to her kids, this is where I had my first swim, and where my mum took me to swim meets. Potentially one day she could be doing the same with her kids. I may not be around to be apart of that but I’ll definitely be watching down from heaven ❤️

25 September 2024

First Chemo Session Feb 24

This was my very first round of Chemotherapy, back in February 2024. I asked the nurse if she’d take a photo of me. The nurses are SO lovely in the chemo suite! I’m not sure they get this request that often 😂. I wanted the kids to see what their mum was doing in hospital. So the smile was all for them, but it’s good to look back on and know I did it! I went through Chemotherapy, and I came out the other side…no more extreme pain in my legs, fatigue, hair loss and loss of appetite. It was rough! Seat 11 became ‘my chair’. Close enough to the toilet, far enough away from the other 14 chairs being occupied by other men and women getting their treatments. I really didn’t want to have to sit there for 3hours every three weeks listening to other people chatting away to me. There is no real privacy in the suite. Personal questions are asked of you every time you go in, for anyone to listen to…no I don’t have any rashes, vomiting or diarrhoea…🫣 Most people in the Chemo suite have their wives, husbands or best friends with them. Not me…I treated the whole experience like a mini getaway 😂. There was free food, I could put my feet up, listen to music, read magazines and do word searches, oh yes and on line shop. If I was going to go through getting Chemo I could at least online shop! There were no little voices asking of me, there was no work to do, I could just relax and have some me time. I did have a lady walk past me one day and say ‘oh no you’re here by yourself’, ‘I sure am I want it this way’. The best feeling for me was knowing my mum and my husband were busy looking after the kids, not sitting on a chair uncomfortably and bored for three hours. Getting through treatment you do need a certain mindset. For me it was the stubborn belief that I could do this. Often I’d go to my happy place and just think of being in a totally different situation full of happiness and calm. Distraction was key too. I have an amazing group of friends from high school who always found ways to encourage me, pick me up, or give me other things to think about. Staying positive throughout was easier when I could keep myself mentally and creatively busy. Getting the actual chemo drugs wasn’t an issue, the issue is the effects of the drugs on your body. That very first round of Chemo was so rough! 😭 You have no idea how strong you are as a person until you’re sitting in that chemo chair for round two. Knowing what your’ve just been through three weeks earlier and that you are about to go through it all again, not knowing if this time it’ll be better, the same or worse! The cancer society are just around the corner from the suite and are there to provide so much support should you want or need it. You don’t want to find yourself showing your kids photos of you in hospital, you don’t want to be thinking about when were your last pain meds, who’s going to take your daughter to school and pick her up. By helping me fundraise, hopefully there will be a future where no one again has to go through this. Again a huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to donate. You are helping in the best way possible, for the Breast Cancer Foundation to make this dream a reality. I appreciate every single one of you 💕💕

23 September 2024

Let’s go Girls

Let’s go girls…Let’s get our boobs checked regularly…you can check them yourself…get a professional to do the exam or I’m sure your partner would be more than willing to help out 👍🏻. Anything you can do to help catch breast cancer early is so worth it! Google how to do a self exam, and don’t be afraid should you find something…you got this! Early detection is key!! These earrings are what I’ll be wearing on my Pink Ribbon Walk. I got a pair for my mum too (she doesn’t know this yet 😂). It’s a sneak peak into the theme of our pink outfits 👩🏻‍🎤👚💕🩷😂. I do love a fun dress up costume!! I’ll be sure to let you all see the finished outfits on the day of the walk. There is a bit of creativity involved so I’m hoping my vision actually turns out. So let’s go girls…let’s fight the fight, raise some funds and have a whole lotta fun along the way… Let’s go!!

22 September 2024

Grateful

20 September 2024

How are we going to do this mum?

How are we going to do this mum? Asked my son. One step at a time, one step at a time…

My son and I decided that today was a perfect day to up my step count and get some kms ticked off in preparation for my 5 km walk in October.

We decided to do the McLeans grasslands reserve walk. It is part of the Christchurch 360 trail.

The side we chose to do was along the water race that goes through farm paddocks. We saw merino sheep, diary cows, ducks, plover, magpie and a hawk. It was quite and peaceful, only interrupted put the chatter coming from my son.

One step at a time, over stiles, one step at a time, through long grass, one step at a time in the sun and shade. We pushed ourselves today and did a whopping 5km!!!

One step at a time, hearing my diagnosis, one step at a time, going to scans, treatments and blood tests. It’s all not pleasant and at times you really do feel like giving up. But one step at a time, you realise along the way you aren’t alone.

Today I had my son beside me, other days it’s been my immediate family and I am so blessed to have incredible friends who are constantly cheering me on and distracting me.

So one step at a time I’m going to keep going, through the hard times where every step feels like trudging through wet concrete, to the lighter times full of successes and fun.

Thank you all for supporting me along this journey and for your prayers xx

18 September 2024

Getting my body ready…albeit slowly

Every three weeks I make my way to the Chemo suite at the Christchurch hospital.

While I am over receiving the actual chemotherapy drug I am still receiving the other two I was taking at the same time. I will continue to take these two drugs every three weeks for as long as they continue to suppress the numerous cancers I have from growing bigger.

Normally my family drop me off and pick me up or I get the shuttle from the Deans Ave car park to the hospital for these appointments.

Last Wednesday I decided to walk from the carpark to the hospital, instead of taking the shuttle.

It was a beautiful day and the daffodils and cherry blossoms were in full bloom. So many people were out running, walking with friends, taking photos and then there was me.

I was in no rush, so enjoyed every step.

As I passed Hagley park and saw the daffodils I was reminded of all the years I took my children there to get their yearly photos in the daffodils. I wondered if they will in turn do the same with their children…I hope so.

When I see all the things that make Christchurch, Christchurch, like the big leafy trees that line our streets I am so grateful to call Christchurch my home. It is a beautiful place to live.

Now to find another way to get my step count up!

17 September 2024

Hair today gone tomorrow

I have debated with myself many, many times whether I should share this or not….

I have Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has spread around my body. There is no cure, no treatment, that can rid my body of what it’s going through.

There are treatments that can stop the cancer’s growing further, but for me nothing will illuminate it completely.

I was doing everything I could; getting yearly mammograms and ultrasounds but still the cancer developed. It’s still quite unbelievable that it progressed so much in a year.

In the beginning of 2024 I started my Chemotherapy journey, and yes I lost all my hair.

I can’t describe the feeling that goes through you when big chunks of your hair come away in your hands…other than your mind can’t process it and it makes your stomach churn.

The main reason I’d like to fundraise is because I want my daughter to know I have done everything I can to potentially help her in the future.

If I can raise some money, that could go towards finding a cure, that would make this whole scenario somehow ‘worth it’.

If you can spare a few dollars (or more), I’d really appreciate it.

My Mum, daughter and I will be doing the 5km walk that is coming up.

I haven’t walked that far probably since I was a child, so am hoping I’ll make it over the finishing line.

It may not sound far to all you fit, healthy individuals, but I get so tired now. Hopefully I’ll be blessed with a high energy day to complete this task!

There has to be a day when families aren’t ripped apart due to cancer.

I’m sure hoping that that time will be sooner rather than later, so all our daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters don’t have to sit in a Chemo suite, lay on a radiation machine table and have scans and blood tests the rest of their lives.

Thank you in advance if you can help me fundraise for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Bittersweet

Monday 30th Sep