Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Cancer survivor keen to give back
Stacey Scollard considers herself lucky; it took six months of chemotherapy and the loss her hair to beat cancer.
Her diagnosis with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in November 2015 turned her life upside down, but with the support of family, friends and the Marlborough Cancer Society she was able to beat the dreaded disease.
She was so determined not to let it affect her life she even went ahead with her wedding, despite having lost all her hair which she had specially been growing.
‘‘It wasn’t going to stop me. I even had chemo two days before the wedding.’’
Her treatment involved twice monthly sessions. These took their toll, but mostly mentally, Stacey says.
‘‘About halfway through the idea of going for chemo made me feel ill. [But] I was so so lucky. Mine was the picture perfect treatment; I didn’t get sick and it just ran smoothly.’’
Now she wants to get involved and help the society, which helped support her through her battle.
She has put together a team, Stace’s Aces, to be part of the Marlborough Relay For Life on March 11.
She was so keen she was the first person to register.
Team-mate Michelle Burns is also keen to get involved after seeing both her parents battle cancer.
‘‘Everyone has been touched in some way [by cancer]. Everyone knows someone who has fought cancer.’’
They are aiming to enter a team of 10 and raise $5000.
All money raised for the relay will go to the Marlborough Cancer Society, with the event being one of its major fundraisers.
The 2017 relay will be Stacey’s first.
‘‘Having experienced what the society does I really want to give back.’’
It’s a sentiment echoed by Michelle, who has taken part in a relay once before.
They were both looking forward to the event, particularly with the new 12-hour format and the organisers’ promise of a festival atmosphere.
In the past the biennial event had been run over 16-hours, but this year that will change in the hope it can attract more teams.
The relay will run from noon to midnight on March 11.
To register a team email hilaryg@cancersoc.org.nz