Half Marathon for Waipuna Hospice in memory of Karen Niven

Words cannot describe how thankful myself, my family and friends are to Waipuna hospice for their work with Karen Niven at the beginning of this year. Aunty Karen was diagnosed with stage 4 breast Cancer at the end of November 2019. She fought hard. Determined and stubborn as ever to beat it. She was taken far too quickly. But, the support she received from the team at Waipuna Hospice was absolutely incredible.

Waipuna Hospice specialises in providing palliative care – symptom control and pain management where a cure is no longer an option. Waipuna Hospice also offers support services to patients and their support networks whether this is family/whanau, friends, neighbours, or staff at rest homes and hospital.

Waipuna Hospice is not funded by government. While some of their services are contracted from the District Health Board they still need to raise $4.25 million in the coming financial year to meet the shortfall in their operating costs. That’s just under $82,000 per week!

Without them, I have no idea what we would have done. This is why I am dedicating my half marathon fundraising to Waipuna hospice, in memory of my beautiful Aunty Karen.

Any little bit helps!