Survivors adjust their altitude
A group of women who have survived cancer are climbing Mt Tongariro, and want other survivors and their supporters to join in the challenge.
Hannah Brittain of Wellington and Kristin Paterson from Nelson are part of the Whole Lotta Life Foundation, a charity founded by Paterson in 2013 to support young adults with cancer. They are taking on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in November as part of a fundraising campaign for the charity.
‘‘The goal of the expedition, which is really an epic adventure for all of us taking part, is to bring people together and assemble a passionate group of survivors, carers and supporters,’’ Paterson said.
They hope to encourage other Kiwis to ‘‘adjust their altitude’’ and join them in doing the crossing, representing the mountain young New Zealanders face when diagnosed with cancer.
Paterson was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a young mum at 26. Earlier this year, as part of a challenge set through her blog The Fear-Less Project, she went diving with great white sharks off the coast of Australia.
Paterson’s adventure inspired Brittain to take on her own challenge. She suggested the Tongariro Crossing and asked Paterson to join her. It grew from there.
So far, a group of eight Nelsonians has committed to the challenge. They have been walking together in the Grampians and the Richmond Hills as part of their training.
The Adjust Your Altitude challenge from November 23-26 is open to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis or wants to support the foundation. For more information, visit the Whole Lotta Life website.