Shannon's mental race for Brain Tumour Support New Zealand

In New Zealand, it is estimated a total of 1,158 kiwis will be diagnosed with a brain tumour this year. Last year, my gorgeous Aunty Dee was one of these diagnosed and she passed away in January of this year.

For Aunty Dee and most others diagnosed with a brain tumour, her journey with cancer did not start in her brain. Brain tumours, both cancerous and non-malignant are scary and unfortunately come with an extremely high death rate due to the brain being the most complex organ in our body.

We all know that our brain controls everything we do. My brain helps me study psychology at university, it helps me listen and contribute during work meetings, it helps me push myself to complete another rep in the gym or run the extra km. My brain helps me create meaningful relationships with the ones I love and tells me when I really enjoy the first sip of my morning coffee. My brain releases endorphins when I jump into the ocean and it allows me to giggle, laugh and cry. For sufferers of brain tumours, the risk of being able to do these things forever begin to slip away.

Supporting someone going through this disease is hard. Not only watching someone you love become very sick, but also watching their personality, their ability to move freely, laugh and remain independent makes knowing what to say when you see them or knowing how to offload the pain so tough to navigate. This is why I have joined the team at Brain Tumour Support New Zealand to help with the marketing and communications for the incredible charity, and also raise funds for my ironman.

Those who know me are aware I'm in no way an endurance athlete. Aunty Dee would even say "hard and fast" was how I'd run through life if I could. Completing a half ironman has always been on the bucket list and there's no mental battle harder than this at the present.

I will be racing the Taupō half ironman (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run) in March 2022 for Aunty Dee and the other 1,157 kiwis suffering with brain tumours. It would mean the world to me and all the Whānau impacted by this disease to be able to provide support for those fighting and affected by the battle. For more information on BTSNZ and how you can help, visit https://www.braintumoursupport.org.nz/

Aunty Dee, Dyls, Jake, Ash and Jase... this one's for you <3