Breast cancer survivor bares all for fundraiser
Hannah Straker never felt that confident in front of a camera.
The 45-year-old Nelson woman who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and had a mastectomy in March now has no such qualms.
‘‘I felt less self-conscious because I had been through so much trauma,’’ she said.
‘‘It is about facing up and saying, we have breast cancer, lets talk about it, don’t be shy, it is not something to be ashamed of.’’
Straker had photos taken by her good friend Kiki Nichols after her operation to document the process and she was surprised and thrilled with the results.
She said the ‘‘horrendous’’ cancer diagnosis after discovering a lump in her left breast was like ‘‘being run over by a juggernaut’’.
Despite the shock, the mother of three was determined to not let it break her spirit. She has been very public about her battle.
‘‘I am all about having fun. It’s not all doom and gloom,’’ she said.
After being diagnosed, the Nelson midwife asked whether it would be possible for her mastectomy to be postponed until after the Womad music festival.
Instead, her surgeon suggested it would be better to get the operation done beforehand to allow her to recover in time to attend the world music event in New Plymouth.
Straker’s photo is being used to promote, Eat Nurture, Love, an upcoming Nelson event to raise funds for others who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
In New Zealand, more than 3000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and more than 600 die from the disease.
Straker got thinking about what she could do to help others while taking part in a restorative yoga class funded by the Nelson Regional Breast Cancer Trust which she found really ‘‘nourishing’’.
Along with other breast cancer survivors, she is behind the fundraising event to be held in Nelson next week with the support of the community.
Some of the Nelson region’s most renowned chefs, including Dan Monopoli, Steve Coyne, Yuki Takeoda, Sue McNulty, Jill Stevenson and Sherilyn Maxwell, will be making tapas for the event which will also feature a charity auction. A talk entitled ‘‘Boob’’ will be given by surgeon Ros Pochin.
Straker said she borrowed the idea from her brother, Ben Maschler who held the Auction against Hunger in London, to raise funds for malnourished children and provide families with access to safe water and good nutrition.
The event will include a discussion with Straker’s mother Fay Maschler, the long serving restaurant critic for The London Evening Standard who is also travelling to New Zealand for Straker’s final chemotherapy treatment.
Straker said it was about the healing power of food and the healing power of coming together as a community.
‘‘Partly what it is about as well - is celebrating that the care that we have here is phenomenal; fast and caring and personal.’’