Dream prompts cycling fundraiser
When Rod Rutherford had a dream that he cycled the length of New Zealand, he didn’t even own a bike, let alone know that his dream would soon become a reality.
The 59-year-old from Cambridge, Waikato, was diagnosed with kidney cancer 18 months ago and had eight tumours in his body, including four in his brain.
Rutherford heard about the Cancer Society because of his initial diagnosis.
When he was given a bike out of the blue, the stars aligned, and he decided to raise money for the Cancer Society by cycling the length of the country, just like in his dream.
He calls his great adventure ‘‘Rod’s Life Cycle.’’
‘‘In the early days of my illness, the Cancer Society gave me advice and really helped me out, which was one of the reasons I decided to support them. They are always there in the background and I’m so grateful for that,’’ says Rutherford.
He has always been philosophical about his cancer diagnosis and says that life is never as bad as it seems.
And his treatment is working – he now has only three tumours remaining.
‘‘The beauty is that my wife and children have managed to deal with it lightly. We are just dealing with it as it comes, one
pictured,
day at a time,’’ Rutherford says.
So far, he has raised a huge $5000 for the Cancer Society during his 6-month ride from Bluff to Cape Reinga. He wants to thank the Cancer Society for being there through his cancer journey and always lending an understanding ear when he needed it. And he has
TAUTOKO TE RĀ DAFFODIL
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Daffodil Day symbolises hope for all New Zealanders impacted by cancer. Every day 71 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer. For more than 30 years New Zealanders have supported the work of the Cancer Society on Daffodil Day and they need your help again this year.