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.
Friend
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.
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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