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.

I was  the 1 in 9, back in 2020.  I was 31 weeks pregnant with our first child, and diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Breast Cancer.

Hugo was born via an emergency c-section at 37 weeks after a week long induction, and was admitted to NICU. We were in the middle of our covid lockdown so i was unable to visit him with my husband. 

When he was just 6 days old, I was again admitted to hospital alone, for a mastectomy to remove my breast and cancer. 

What followed was 6 months of grueling chemo and 25 rounds of brutal radiation, all while navigating life as a first time mum with a new born.

I have since had a full double mastectomy with no reconstruction, leaving an 81 cm scar starting on my back on one side, and finishing on my back on the other.  My ovaries and fallopian tubes have been removed in precaution and a further 2 surgeries to tidy up after the mastectomies. 

Without the help of the Breast Cancer Foundation I would not have had access to free physiotherapy sessions for the lymphoedema in my arm and compression bandage to help flare ups, or the beautiful heart cushion for post surgery recovery comfort.  

This will be the second walk I have taken part in  - the first was during my chemo treatment and i took my son who was 6 months old.

Please donate to raise funds for life-saving education, life-changing patient support and ground-breaking medical research - to help women like me and so many others diagnosed with breast cancer today, tomorrow and the days after that.

Help bring us closer to a day when there are zero deaths from breast cancer.