Run for Nana

My youngest brother Lopeti and I have officially lost the plot and have decided to run a half marathon at the end of November! As November is also Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to raise some money and awareness around pancreatic cancer.

Our precious Nana passed away in July 2016 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Nana hadn't been feeling her best for a few months, but our family knew nothing about pancreatic cancer and missed the early symptoms that she had been showing. We want to raise awareness so that other family's don't have to go through what we did.

There is very little awareness around Pancreatic cancer, yet it has the highest mortality of all major cancers with only 9.8% of patients reaching the 5-year survival mark. Two thirds of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of diagnosis and it is projected to be the 2nd leading cause of cancer related deaths by 2030.

All proceeds will be donated to the staff at Ward 25 & 26 at Christchurch Hospital, who cared for our Nana with so much love and compassion. Who never once told us to keep it down during our daily 3pm Divine Mercy and family prayers. Who looked out for my Grandpa who slept on the couch next to Nana every night she was in hospital, and who put up with my cheeky Grandpa's dry jokes and accommodated us in every way possible.