RUNNING MY 1ST EVER HALF MARATHON TO SUPPORT CAROLINE, (LOVING MUM OF 2 YOUNG GIRLS) WHO HAS BRAINSTEM CAVERNOMA.
I'm running my 1st ever Half Marathon to raise funds for Mum of 2 young girls, Caroline who is battling with Brainstem Cavernoma.
Clevedon, Auckland
Caroline, an amazing woman and Mum to two beautiful young girls was sadly diagnosed with a Brainstem Cavernoma in January 2021.
Since then she has had three bleeds and a surgery on her brain called an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy.
Unfortunately it is not possible for her to have the Cavernoma removed here in New Zealand, so she is looking at the possibility of having it removed at a Neurosurgery in Sydney, Australia.
This is why I would like to help as much as I can to raise funds to help see that Caroline gets to Australia to have this surgery. Unfortunately Caroline has not been able to work since she was diagnosed almost 2 years ago. She lives with her two young daughters, who sadly lost their father to suicide in 2013.
I have signed up to run in the Waterfront Half Marathon on the 2nd April 2023. I have never run 22km in my life, so this is an exceptionally big challenge for me!
I am determined to ACHIEVE IT and I am going to do this run to raise funds for Caroline because I hope one day soon she'll be able to get back into the outdoors and enjoy tramping and running again.
Please help me to raise funds to assist Caroline and her two daughters by donating to my Half Marathon challenge! Thank you so very much xx
Alison Gilbertson's involvement (page creator)
My friendship with Caroline began at our local playgroup in Clevedon.
Other page links
Latest update
Half Marathon Achieved!!! 2 April 2023
Thank you everyone for your extremely generous donations towards helping Caroline with my challenge to run my first ever Half Marathon!
This morning as I drove the 50min drive out to Mission Bay, I felt a little underprepared. But my heart told me that somehow I was going to do it!
Up until today the longest distance I have ever run is 11km (twice in my life!). Today I ran 21km in 2hr 48min! I am still in total shock that I did this.
But my driving force was the whole reason why I signed up to do it in the first place. And that was in an effort to help Caroline.
As I ran this race today I looked out at the beautiful ocean views and appreciated every moment. I said to myself that next year I want to run this race with Caroline! So here's to next year Caroline!! xxx
Latest donations
Thank you so much Alena for your kindness and generous donation, I know Caroline appreciates it very, very much. Love Alison xx
Thank you so much Taeha for your extremely generous donation, it's GREATLY appreciated xxx Maybe I'll video call Mabel for some sing-along tunes on the way! :)
Thank you so very much for your generous donation Trevor and Joan xx I really appreciate your encouragement and support ❤️
Thanks so much xx really appreciate your generous donation 😊
Thank you so much for your donation Alison and Adrian, really appreciate your support xx
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