Stewart Island Walk for Life Flight

In March I will walk about 180 km on Stewart Island’s Northwestern and Southern Circuits to raise money for Life Flight. My mother Beryl will join in for the first few days and walk the Rakiura Track.

Life flight has helped our family twice. In 2014 I had surgery for Chiari Malformation in Christchurch. This involved cutting a hole in my skull in order to relieve pressure on the brain. I was released from hospital and travelled home to Nelson. A day after being home I developed complications. I was admitted to intensive care in Nelson Hospital. The team from the Life Flight Air Ambulance transferred me to Christchurch Hospital where I spent three weeks recovering.

Last year Beryl suffered a double brain aneurysm. Within hours Life Flight had arrived to transfer her to Wellington Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. She spent ten days in Wellington hospital. After this the Air Ambulance transferred her back to Nelson Hospital.

Following my surgery for Chiari Malformation I had another for Scoliosis. This involved having two rods and 14 screws placed in my spine. Since then I have walked over 5000 km in New Zealand, Nepal, America, and Australia. I want to turn my walking to a good cause.

Life Flight have done a lot for our family, and for many others. We are very grateful. The teams were wonderful and made a very difficult time much easier. Life Flight operate the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Air Ambulance Planes. Life Flight fly a mission somewhere in New Zealand every six hours. They need support in order to keep doing their vital work.