Aiming high to remember Alison
DESPITE facing terminal breast cancer, Alison Starr never stopped smiling.
The Nelson woman lived so courageously in her final years, her family are taking on a physical challenge in a tribute to her fighting spirit.
Alison’s husband Simon and sons Dean and Todd are climbing to Everest Base Camp in October to raise funds for the hospice that allowed her to die with dignity.
Alison was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and had a lump removed from her breast. But months later, the cancer returned.
‘‘Anybody who knew Alison would know she was all smiles, all the way through her illness and right up until she passed away. She was struggling, but it was always with a smile on her face,’’ Simon Starr said.
When it became clear the cancer was terminal, the couple who had been together 33 years, brought their retirement forward and decided to travel.
‘‘We were adamant that as a pair, until death us do part, we would go through this journey together. It was always in the back of our minds that we didn’t have long.
‘‘We always knew going to take her.’’
The couple travelled to Fiji, Thailand and the United States, returning home between each trip so Alison could be treated. In 2018 they went back to the UK it was one last time to farewell friends and family.
Their final trip saw the whole family reunited for a ‘‘magical’’ trip in Switzerland. When they returned to Nelson, Alison was entering the final stages of her life.
‘‘Alison didn’t want to die at home, her biggest fear was dying in pain. She said, ‘I can accept the fact I am going to pop off early, I don’t want to hurt’.’’
She spent the last four days of her life in hospice care and died, surrounded by her family, on May 31, 2018.
Starr described the hospice as a ‘‘blessing’’ that had made life a little more comfortable.
The Base Camp hike idea came from son Dean.
‘‘He said, ‘what do you think Dad? We could raise money in remembrance of mum, all the other sufferers and hospice too. How could I say no?’’
To train, Starr has been hitting the gym three times a week and has climbed Mt Robert, Mt Arthur, and walked the Tongariro Crossing.
The trio will trek 130 kilometres over 10 days to reach Base Camp at an altitude of 5380 metres. They have funded the trip themselves and any money they raise from a Givealittle page will go to the new Nelson Tasman Hospice building in Stoke. So far more than $7000 has been donated.
"This is a walk in the park compared to what (Alison) had to do,’’ Starr said.
Nelson Tasman Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Paul McIntyre said it was ‘‘incredible and humbling’’ the Starr family were taking on the challenge.
‘‘It’s truly remarkable that they think of anyone else during their grieving process.’’
The hospice needs to raise $1.5 million each year and McIntyre said the money raised by the Starrs would go towards ensuring hospice services remained free of charge.