Summer Starter 2015

What an epic adventure; I completed at the Summer Starter!  It was a super hard final pool session, as my back and leg were not 100% but Allison (my physio) and I discussed that I would be good to go on event day. Allison suggested she would love me to take my crutches as a back up…So after much contemplating over a coffee and late breakfast how one can carry crutches without using them and lead Prince, the Tribe came up with awesome ideas and Riwai decided that he would join me on my epic 4km marathon as support!
It was a great day out and having so many supporting me, my mum (despite her back injury) dad, four of my cousins, Allison, Riwai and Prince, all the LeapCrew including Lou, David, Lilly and her parents and nephew and Callum and his parents and over 50 of our tribe!  The TutuMaker Anne, and Linley for helping me in the tent at the start and with ice when I burst a balloon into it!  Lol – The show must go on after all that training.

It was a hugely emotional but amazing day for me. It was not only magic to cross the finish line but it was even more magic to arrive back and see my dream of a fun and supportive tribe hanging out celebrating!

So a huge thank you to everyone who took part today, supported me in the lead up, during the event, at the finish line, BBQ and after party. Special mention to the BBQ team who ran fast to get back and help with the sausages and and pack down crew who kept the peace between me and Riwai, as I was certainly getting tired by the end of the day.   Huge thanks to my adorable husband who sacrificed his own event to join me and then took me to Rolleston for an hours soak in the pool – it was definitely the bit that made me feel amazing on Monday!  So hashtag summerstarter16 has been created already and who knows what 2016 will bring!

ps Everyone of you would have all made my Nan super proud and she would have enjoyed all the celebrations, laugher, smiles, hugs and stories.  The entire day was fabulous and I have memories that will last forever . I said to Allison (who walked closely the entire way) today made all the training worth it.

Made sweeter that I got to celebrate my milestone with your all – thank you so so much. Xx !

This is one of my absolute favourite pics from all of our wonderful photo shoots and one for all the LeapStars!   ONE MORE SLEEP!  

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Summer Starter – For today’s editorial read more here….

 Photo Credit Stacey Squires.


It is just one more sleep until The Press Summer Starter…. And the above picture is one of my favourites from our photo shoot from our interviews with Emily Spink.  This one is for the LeapStars – punishment for Riwai as he had to plank with me on his back!

I have spent the last few months spending Friday mornings at the Burwood Hospital getting my back strong enough to make the epic 4km journey tomorrow without my crutches.   It has been an amazing journey so far and I know tomorrow I will enjoy every minute of the event.   I have butterflies but know that Nan is on my shoulder.

I did my last event with her and Riwai would push her in the wheelchair 20130627-155636.jpgwhile she admired all the legs – true story and her words!   Before that Mum and I would push her.

Because weekend would have been her 90th birthday it is even more special for us all.  Today Riwai and I took her handprint to the tent where the after party will be.   We will be having a sausage sizzle and lots of people milling around – I am sure she would have loved it.

Nans Handprint
Nan’s Hand Print will look over us tomorrow at the Summer Starter

This year for the first time ever I will also be donning a Tutu!  It made us realise that I have never needed one as have always been on the sidelines cheering in support.  Tomorrow my newly designed one will get it’s very first outing and we are both excited!  They both look amazing and to top off our fabulous new Pink and Green Tutus  we will have yellow wigs in support of Ronald McDonald House .

So if you are in Christchurch keep and eye out for us.. and if you aren’t we will have pictures up tomorrow night for you 🙂

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Huggle Buggles to you all and I look forward to sharing all the stories with you tomorrow.   Love you Nan and you will always be in my heart

xxx