Kirsty takes Ironman 🏊‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ 🏃🏽

$25,928 of $20,000 goal

Given by 211 generous donors in 9 weeks

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Every kilometre for everyone living with CF. Follow along my journey on Instagram @kirstyeparsons

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Ironman NZ Taupō

3.8km swim · 180km bike · 42.2km run

I have Cystic Fibrosis. Throughout my life I have spent hours every day doing physio, medication and nebulisation, and frequent hospital admissions just to stay healthy. Completing an Ironman seems like an impossible challenge. On March 7 I will be taking it on, thanks to Trikafta the 'miracle drug'. I'm fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis NZ to improve the lives of others with CF

Ironman is one hard day. CF is every day

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Borrowed Breaths

Lake Swim

Cold water. Adrenaline. 2,000 swimmers. Controlled breathing. Every stroke starts with a breath I’ve had to fight for my whole life

For me, breathing has always required planning, treatment, and discipline - long before race day.

Your donation backs the first kilometres and every breath that got me there

Sponsor the breaths I don’t take lightly

The Long Middle

180km Bike

This is the grind. Headwinds, hills, tired legs - and no hiding from fatigue

Living with CF means managing energy constantly: meds, physio, recovery, repeat.

These kilometres reflect that - relentless, unglamorous, but necessary

Fund the hours that feel endless

The Finish Line

42km Run

The hardest kilometres of the entire day. The sun goes down. Empty legs. Tears are possible. Breathing that feels heavy again. And finishing becomes a choice

This is where I choose to keep moving - the same choice I make with CF, over and over.

Your donation carries me through the final stretch and across the line

Back the choice to never give up

I am an Ironman!! 9 March 2026

An amazing day, finished strong with a smile and a great support team. 14hour 47min. Thank you to everyone!!

The Taupo weather turned it on, no wind and the perfect temperature. Duncan and I swam together which was really special. We started near the back to not get caught up in the chaos. The plan worked out perfectly and it was an enjoyable swim. The bike was amazing, a beautiful course through typical NZ scenes. I ate and drunk loads on the bike, to fuel up for the run. Was very happy with my bike time. I jumped off and my hips were in agony. But after transition they relaxed and I started the run. It went better than expected. My legs felt great and I was fueled up. The sunset was spectacular then the crowd and music got me going the first few hours of the night. Everyone up supporting me were AMAZING! So much cheering on, signs, and yellow tshirts. It made it really special seeing you all. Thank you. I had a strategy but no expectations going into the day. It went better than I could have imagined, it was so magical.

My givealittle page will remain open until the end of April.

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Activity tracking

Time spent exercising: 74 hrs 16 mins

Total distance covered: 1,026.9 km

Latest activity

Afternoon Ride 29 March 2026

53 mins

22.4 km

View 50 more activities

On average, fundraisers pay just 2% to use Givealittle. This is one of the lowest effective fees in New Zealand fundraising. We charge a 5% platform fee to cover the cost of running the platform. Because most donors choose to top up their donation to cover this fee, the effective cost paid by fundraisers is about 2%. That means around 98 cents of every dollar raised goes to the cause. Learn More