Tere’s mates join paddle for life
Cancer journey mirrored
Tere Kiriau will be a proud man this Friday.
The once active and healthy 48-year-old, who has strong family and waka ama connections to Porirua, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2010.
He was re-admitted to hospital recently and the prognosis is not good.
This Friday, his fervent wish to highlight men’s health issues will see a six-man waka make the trek from Porirua Harbour to Petone, Frank Kitt’s Park, Oriental Bay and Evans Bay. That’s a 90-kilometre journey.
The brainchild of Tere and his brother Numa, the Mates Paddle for Life will likely be Kiriau’s last hurrah, says good mate Steve Kenny.
‘‘This paddle is driving Tere, he wants to be there for it. There’s no chance of getting him in the waka, he’ll be in the support boat, but he’ll be with us the whole time. Tere has strong ties out here in Porirua and this is where he wanted to start the journey on Friday.’’
There has been plenty of media coverage for the paddle already, with sports and television personalities Brendon Pongia and John Mcbeth on board, promoting the event on television and radio. Alongside fundraising through the matespaddleforlife.com website, there will be a charity auction at Poneke Rugby Football Club on Friday night. Hotel stays and New Zealand sevens jerseys will be among items auctioned.
The event’s aim is to raise awareness for men to get regular health checks, especially those on ‘‘the wrong side of 40 [years old],’’ says Kenny, the Cancer Society’s national men’s health coordinator.
The paddle represents the long and arduous journey sick people must make. ‘‘ Friends and supporters go through the pain with you, quite often – paddlers in waka need help to make it too.’’
Family friend James Sadler, a keen paddler who lives in Papakowhai, will be in the waka on Friday.
He has fingers crossed for kind winds down the coast but says they will be doing it regardless, knowing that Kiriau is right there next to them.
Sadler was diagnosed with bowel cancer seven years ago and after a long battle, beat the disease. He is living proof that men over 40 should get regular health checks, as he was a whisker from having it claim his life.
‘‘I was in the UK and there was a lot of blood when I went to the toilet one day. I thought I’d had a bad curry, you just rationalise it away and I didn’t get the problem checked for a while. It was close – I had a young family at the time.’’ He is looking forward to Friday. ‘‘I was surprised and honoured to be asked to paddle. The fact that it’s 90km is neither here nor there when you consider the road that cancer sufferers have to take. I’ve raced against and paddled with Tere over the years, he’s an amazing guy.’’
The paddle starts at 6am, follows the coastline to Wellington and hopefully reaches Frank Kitts Park by 11am. Other paddlers will be invited to join Tere for the leg to Evans Bay, commencing from beside Freyberg Pool. There will be a Colossal Colon and other health promotions.
‘‘Anyone can come along, people on long boats, outriggers, wave skis, whatever,’’ Kenny says.
It is hoped the paddle will become an annual event. To donate or see Kiriau’s video diary, visit: matespaddleforlife.com