Bay Girls

Bay Girls are a group of Pacific Island mothers with a long history together based in Lyall Bay, Wellington. Some of us went to school many years ago together. Our children went to school and play sports together, now many of whom are now in their 20s. Some of us are family, some go to church together. But overall, we are all good friends who meet regularly to support each other and to share our parenting, relationship and life stories.

We have experienced our fair share of sadness and loss, and in the last two years have lost a husband / father to cancer (Tere Kiriau), and another to heart disease (Asotasi Va'a Makisi). Just before Christmas 2013, we tragically lost one of our own bay girls - Motu Groom while aquajogging. She always made an effort to keep the group together, to make sure we were OK. Just before she passed, she sent the group an email based on Revelations 3:8:

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only one of two things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

So 11 of our children have recently lost a parent, and two of us are now widows. While these losses have rocked us, they have also made us stronger as a group, as friends and as sisters. They have motivated us to work more closely, to support each other better, and to maintain good health and wellbeing for ourselves and our families. They have motivated us to fly!

Therefore in honour of our loved ones, and to protect our families in the future, we have decided on a goal to run a relay around the island of Rarotonga. Tere, who died of cancer had planned a trip to his homeland of Rarotonga before his death, but unfortunately did not make it, thus the destination. Some of us have not exercised for years, and it is a huge challenge for us, however with the support of the group, and the memory of our loved ones, we know we can do this.