Miles for Maria — Help Get Maria to China for Life-Saving Treatment

Hey, I’m Maria.

My journey started with what I thought was just… back pain. I was visiting my parents and decided to get it checked to be safe… and then suddenly I’m being told I have Multiple Myeloma. I honestly didn’t see it coming. Proper shock!

Since then it’s been a whirlwind — chemo, two stem cell transplants, so many meds. I’ve just been taking it as it comes.

I’m a dancer and a creative — that’s always been my thing. You learn to adapt, flow, keep going… and I’m still trying to do that.

But now the cancer’s come back, and I’ve been told there’s nothing else funded for me here in NZ.

That’s been really hard. Especially knowing there are options out there — just not here.

So many people end up moving across the ditch or spending their life savings just to stay alive.

I used to think money can’t buy you happiness… but it can buy you your life.

Through organisations like Myeloma NZ and Australia, and other courageous kiwis who’ve gone overseas, I’ve learned about CAR T — the closest thing there is to a cure.

So I’m planning to go to China in mid-June to access this treatment. It means being there for 3 months, and all up it’s about $200,000 including travel and accommodation.

That’s the hardest part. I want to do everything I can to keep living… but I can’t do it on my own.

If you’re able to help in any way it means so much.

I know I’ve still got more life in me yet.

More dancing, more creating, more everything really.

Love, Maria x