Aroha for Mel - a true wahine toa!

Kia ora koutou!

Thank you so much to all those who donated to our amazing wahine toa - Mel! It has been about 3 months since the give a little page closed and I'm finally getting round top letting you all know what's been happening!! Better late than never right!

Thanks to all your amazing donations we managed to raise just over $35,000 which meant Mel was able to proceed with her cancer treatment without so much stress worrying about the financial burden, annnddd after starting treatment as soon as she could amazing things happened and her cancer has now gone! She still has a long road ahead and will need to continue on with this treatment but we did it team... well, Mel did it - with our support! We couldn't have dreamed of a better outcome! We're absolutely over the moon and so so so happy and excited for Mel!

Here is a little snippet of Mel's journey from her FB page a few months back, she wishes to share it with all you wonderful people who have helped her on her journey!

"So thought it was about time I did an appreciation post to my whanau and friends that have been beside me, supporting me, keeping it real and loving me every inch of the way the last 12 months while I've been fighting this freakin disease. The first 6 months were coming to terms with my diagnosis and receiving immunotherapy which unfortunately didn't have any positive effect on my tumours. Next step was a non funded treatment at a cost of 10k a month which I had to self fund for the first 50k and this is where my amazing whanau and friends stepped up and showed me that they were not prepared to give up on me, a Give a little page was set up for me by Heather Robson with her full well knowing I was whakama about it, this page raised an amount of money towards this treatment that I still can't quite believe. To everyone that gave to this page I would like to say bless you all, your generosity and words are above and beyond anything I ever expected.

Secondly my whanau from Crossfit Blenheim organised a fundraiser competition in December and what a day! I was also blessed with my other crossfit whanau in Auckland ,thanks Ben Parore and Wellington Crossfit Central for also contributing to this fundraiser. My fave coach Jay and equally fave offsider Amanda ,your hugs are some of the best and I appreciated the time you always made for me. Don't have the words to express my gratitude to you all but be certain it runs very deeply.

The outcome of this is that last Friday I received a call from my oncologist, the drugs that I have been taking on and off over the last 4 months due to my body reacting to them have done the job. I currently am NED( no evidence of disease) , the tumours in my lungs are no longer there. Cancer fckn free!

I do still have to continue on the treatment which unfortunately is pretty toxic but with the continuing support and aroha I've got this.

They say it takes a village to raise a child well it took a village that was spread far and wide including off shore to heal me and I couldn't have done it alone.

You all know who you are! Thank you ,thank you, thank you.

Brett and Coel, I love you so much and you two are my Why! You both were so strong and positive and kept me grounded. Scott ,thank you for being there throughout it all, you have been more than I could ever have imagined ,sorry you've got me for longer now.

Mike ,my big brother with you and Deborah looking out for me and caring for the folks it was one less thing I had to worry about, you're the best.

Monique, Loretta and my three darling nieces you were always there ,just a phone call . Even though you were far away I could always feel your love and light .

My list of friends could go on and on !

So the carousel of life continues and it would make my world if you all could continue the ride with me.

Tino arohanui Mel"

Nga mihi nui e te iwi! Thank you all so much!