Cancer cycling crusade
Brenda Noonan stopped for a welcome pint at the Sandbar Pub recently, halfway through her epic ride the length of the country to raise funds for the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
Hosted in Porirua by the Zonta Club of Mana on November 11 with a barbecue, Ms Noonan, an ex-pat who now lives in Australia, had aimed to cycle 2100km in 21 days, and friends Don and Annie Bright, Margie Silich and Pat Williams joined her for the journey.
The team had fundraised more than $5700 to that point and were due to arrive at Cape Reinga last week.
‘‘This ride is half the distance of my ride [last year, also for charity] across Australia, but we are taking half the time. New Zealand is also way, way hillier, so I’m picking we’ll be pretty fit by the end of this.’’
The New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation is a national charity working with health professionals to raise awareness of the signs of gynaecological cancer.
The five main types of gynaecological cancers are ovarian, endometrial/uterine, cervical, vaginal and vulval.
‘‘One woman dies every day in New Zealand from a gynaecological cancer and we are on a mission to significantly reduce this number,’’ says Michelle Quirk, NZGCF’s general manager.
‘‘We are extremely grateful to individual fundraisers like Brenda and her team who raise money to support our work, and who also raise awareness of gynaecological cancer as they travel through the cities and towns of New Zealand.’’
Supporters can donate at www. fundraiseonline. co. nz/ 2100kmsin21days.