Help Shaun Barnett and his family as he deals with brain cancer

$62,500 of $80,000 goal
Given by 417 generous donors in around 3 months

Help Shaun Barnett and his lovely family as he battles brain cancer.

Wellington

Wellington photographer, tramper and author Shaun Barnett is not the kind of person who asks for help. He’s the kind of person who always looks out for others. But we, his friends, would like to help, because he and his family are going through a pretty tough time.

Shaun was recently diagnosed with a Grade 4 cancerous brain tumour. A diagnosis like this impacts the whole family, and Shaun’s wife has stopped working for a while to help Shaun through his treatment. They have three kids, with the youngest aged 16.

Shaun has written and co-written several award-winning books about New Zealand's backcountry, such as Shelter from the Storm, The Story of New Zealand Backcountry Huts (2012), Tramping, A New Zealand History (2014) and Across the Pass, A Collection of New Zealand Tramping Writing (2021).

What he wants to do with the time he has left is to finish a memoir about his life in nature, called Wild Notes. He’s part way through but there’s a lot more writing to do.

To do this he needs our help. So we’ve set up this Give-a-Little page for Shaun and his family.

All money raised will help the family while Shaun completes his book. A priority for the family is paying for life-extending treatments that are not funded for his condition.

The family knows times are tough for a lot of people. But if you are in a position to help, it would be enormously appreciated.

Shaun is the kindest, loveliest man, and his memoir will be something really special.

Sarah Henderson's involvement (page creator)

Friend

Use of funds

All money raised will help the family while Shaun completes his book. A priority for the family is paying for life-extending treatments (Avastin aka Bevacizumab) that are not funded for his condition.

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Latest update

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A huge thank you from Shaun  26 November 2023

Dear friends, family and outdoors friends who I am yet to meet,

I have read every message and seen your incredible generosity. It is so humbling

and uplifting. I am especially grateful for all of your kind words of

encouragement, support and love.

It is spring and the riroriro (grey warbler) are trilling, which sounds like a song

of hope. Your messages of support are like the lyrics to the warblers’ song.

I smiled at your messages of outdoor adventures and getting addicted to

tramping. Being able to write about tramping and the backcountry has been a

huge privilege and I am truly touched that so many of you have appreciated my

writing.

I had felt uncertain about embarking on Give-a-Little, feeling others are more in

need, but thanks to you all, this has been such a positive journey for our family.

Your support has given me strength and encouraged me to continue my writing.

It has also given us choices and the possibility to pursue health treatments

outside of the public system.

While I am still recovering from radiation and have ongoing chemotherapy over

the next few months, I am well enough to walk each day and am swimming in the

bracing Wellington ocean. I even managed to bag a couple of huts in the

Richmond Range recently and now have just one more to visit.

Your support has made an incredible difference to our family in this time of need

and all I can say is the most heartfelt thanks to you all.

Ngā mihi nui

Shaun and the Stanton-Barnett family

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Latest donations

James
James on 05 Dec 2023
A ‘Gog’ hearing your news. May you find a way through - like the leads in the ice! Fond memories from Port Pegasus.
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Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 05 Dec 2023
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Wendy
Wendy on 05 Dec 2023
Kia Kaha Shaun. Wishing you and your family the strength & resilience to weather this storm.
$200
Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 03 Dec 2023
Loved your interview on RNZ a few weeks ago. Bought 'A bunk for the night' for a friends daughter who turned 18 and loves tramping and hopefully will prompt more adventures. Eagerly awaiting your work in progress. It sounded so interesting and meaningful when you spoke about it and I'm already planning a list of people to gift it to. Best wishes with your treatment and your writing. Nga mihi.
$20
Tanya Louw
Tanya Louw on 03 Dec 2023
Thank you for all the knowledge you share with the tramping community. You are true legend! A bookshelf is not complete without one of yours!
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Who's involved?

Sarah Henderson's avatar
Created by Sarah Henderson
Shaun Barnett's avatar
Paying to a verified bank account of Shaun Barnett
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This campaign started on 6 Sep 2023 and ended on 6 Dec 2023.