Running through the night

This year marks my 15^th anniversary since being diagnosed with cancer (leukaemia, AML). After overcoming that battle and thinking I was free to continue living I was struck down for a second time just 18 months later. Very few leukaemia patients who survive after a relapse go on to live a full life beyond 5 years.

In my first 5 years since remission I did not appreciate what I had been given - another chance at life!

After my 5^th year of ‘freedom’ I decided to take up a personal challenge ever year to remind me of how lucky I am to still be alive and to celebrate that fact. Fortunately I had met someone who understood this and she encouraged me to do a 5km fun walk.  At 118kgs this was tough but this is where it all started.

From there, over the next 10 years, I progressed on to running 10km, cycling 100km, doing a 3km ocean swim, running a 42km marathon.  I eventually took on an Ironman triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run) twice over a space of 4 months. All this time reminding myself what I had to get through to be here.  My life motto became ‘Living the Dream’ as I celebrated being alive!

What this journey has highlighted to me is how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family and close friends who have helped me through. I realised that without them, and people like them, nobody could ever overcome cancer. It is these people who are the true heroes of the battle against cancer.  Your family and friends are the ones who stand at your bedside putting on the brave face not showing you how scared they are of losing you. They are the ones who are trying to share your pain and ease your burden.

It is with this knowledge that I take on my next challenge to honour all those family and friends who have stood alongside a family member fighting to beat cancer. You are our heroes for being there.

My next challenge will be attempting to complete the Great North Walk 100s.  It is a 176km non-stop trail run which I hope to complete in less than 36hrs on 9-10^th November 2013. The GNW race has over 6200m (20 350ft) of elevation and is run through some of the toughest Australian bush where temperatures can reach 40 degrees during the day.

Race profile.

While taking on the challenge I’d like to raise money for the Lynne King Cancer Care Foundation which supports the exact people who need it, those fighting to beat cancer and their family who provide unwavering support of them. I would truly appreciate any donations for my next challenge to be made to the Lynne King Cancer Care Foundation: http://www.lyncares.com/

Thanks so much for your support! 

Kim