Louise's 5 Star Challenge

Hi there! My name is Louise and I have been living in Chch with my gorgeous kiwi husband since August 2015. In April 2016, at 36 years old I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What a shock and life changing! What followed was a round of IVF treatment, 6 rounds of chemotherapy (2 different types), a bilateral masectomy and immediate reconstruction, 25 radiation treatments and 17 herceptin treatments . I believe that keeping active, following a healthy diet and accessing complementary treatments throughout my cancer journey has made a real difference to my recovery. I also know that all the things I did do and take, have made me feel better and that is what is most important to me! I am very grateful for the love, support, care and treatment I have received throughout my journey and I want something good to come from this experience. I really want to help people going through cancer treatment, like people helped me when I needed it and this is where my idea for the Five Star Challenge was born! I intend to take on five challenges in the coming months, one for each of the five stages of my treatment, to raise funds to set up a project that provides funding to other cancer patients for complementary treatments. My first confirmed big challenge is running a marathon in November, something which I have never done before. I have some amazing treatment providers on board for this project, as well as the support of my family and friends, we just need some funds so we can get up and running and start helping and supporting others!

Funds raised will be used to provide vouchers to cancer patients in Christchurch in order for them to access complementary treatments of their choice from any of the reputable treatment providers in CHCH that have already confirmed their support and involvement with this project

I have a number of treatment providers in christchurch that are already supporting this project, but we need funds to get it up and running. It is hard to know at this stage exactly how it will work im practice until we have funds to pay for treatments