Running for teacher and friend

While her colleagues and pupils run the Auckland Marathon, Michaela von Sturmer will be cheering them on from her hospital bed.

A group of 28 staff and 35 pupils at Belmont Primary School are participating in the Auckland Marathon full, half, 12 kilometre and children’s event on Sunday, October 30.

The team, called Miki’s Movers, have taken on the challenge to support von Sturmer, a year 6 teacher who is fighting acute leukaemia.

Teachers Kerry Lundy and Ali Logan are part of a staff running club and decided earlier this year to take on the marathon for their workmate.

‘‘A lot of us felt quite helpless and this is our way of showing her support in a way that’s challenging,’’ Lundy says.

‘‘Whenever I feel tired and not sure I can do this, I go straight to Michaela and think about what she’s going through.’’

Von Sturmer has been a teacher at Belmont Primary School for 17 years and was diagnosed with cancer in April.

She took unpaid leave for the year to undergo treatment, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, and Logan returned from a year’s holiday to job-share von Sturmer’s absence.

Logan then set up a Givealittle page to raise money to help cover von Sturmer’s living costs for the year, raising more than $17,000 so far.

‘‘She’s always been so caring for other people, it was a struggle at first to accept it and she had to really think about it,’’ Logan says.

Von Sturmer says she’s class in her humbled by the support she’s received from her whanau, friends and work family.

‘‘With it being such a long journey everyone’s support, prayers, texts and calls really do make a difference during this difficult time and it’s greatly appreciated,’’ von Sturmer says.

Go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/ getwellmichaela to donate to the Givealittle fundraiser.