Friendship to fitness fundraiser
Cindy Ferguson got more than she bargained for when she replied to a Facebook post advertising clothing for sale.
Ferguson, 25, saw Hannah Simkiss’ listing on a Christchurch buy-and-sell page and arranged to try a few items on. At their first meeting, they became fast friends and shared everything with each other.
When Simkiss revealed her father – an ‘‘extremely lovely, cheeky fella – had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Ferguson desperately wanted to help. The friends were both keen walkers, so Simkiss suggested fundraising for Dementia Canterbury by entering the ASB Summer Starter together.
‘‘We just wanted to do something to help. It makes a positive difference for us and for someone else, so why would we not?’’
Ferguson lost 34 kilograms after joining a weight loss programme three years ago. By making small changes, she has slowly ticked off runs she never thought possible and found confidence and energy to try things ‘‘old Cindy’’ would have scoffed at.
‘‘When I started, Hannah really supported me so I wanted to be able to do that for her. Obviously you hear about people with Alzheimer’s, but you have no idea what it’s really like until you see it firsthand.
‘‘I don’t like the concept that people are out there alone, slowly degenerating and don’t have any support. A charity can find the people who need help and give it to them and I like being part of that.’’
At first, trying to meet a 10,000 step a day target was a challenge, but since her first race, Ferguson has crossed the finish line of several 10-kilometre events, including the Rapaki Rumble, and a half-marathon.
She now fits a 14km daily walk around her full-time job and ‘‘general adulting’’. Working from home meant she spent ‘‘most of the day in active wear anyway’’, so it was just a matter of making exercise a priority, she said.
‘‘Motivation was definitely difficult at the start but it’s all the more rewarding to have a cause to run for. You can’t stop or give up if you think about the people pushing you forward.
‘‘I’ve met some awesome people along the way. There’s always other people to chat to and you meet people you normally wouldn’t have the chance to.’’
Ferguson and Simkiss, who have just celebrated their sixth friendship anniversary, hoped to encourage others to sign up to the Summer Starter with them.
Either way, they could guarantee having a best friend by their side.
* Register now to enter the 2017 ASB Summer Starter at summerstarter.co.nz