KIAMA residents can enjoy an afternoon of health and wellbeing, while raising funds for cancer treatment this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kiama's Heather McAlpine, a cancer survivor, will be cycling in the two-day, 200-kilometre Ride to Conquer Cancer in Sydney this October.
Money raised will benefit Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, a cancer treatment and research facility.
To raise funds she will host Heather's Health and Well-Being Half Day Spa.
Mrs McAlpine was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009, undergoing treatment for almost a year.
She has been told there is a 20 per cent chance of the cancer recurring.
A year after her breast cancer diagnosis, Mrs McAlpine woke in the middle of the night with an overwhelming compulsion to have her ovaries removed, despite having no symptoms.
Scans showed a pre-cancerous tumour and an ovary 45 times larger than the other.
This will be her fourth time participating in the ride.
"I like to cycle. The chemo's affected my lungs, it's damaged my lungs, so I sound like I'm carking it up the hills, whereas I used to love the hills.
"I'm okay [when riding up hills], I know it's just the damage that the lungs won't repair now."
Instead of merely asking people to sponsor her, Mrs McAlpine decided to host the half-day.
"I thought, how can we encourage health and wellbeing in an afternoon in a productive way?" she said.
"It will be a holistic approach to being healthy and well."
Albion Park resident Joe Chayna's wife Donna died from breast cancer two-and-a-half months ago.
His wife had been a participant in the ride, and their daughter Joy, 16, will ride this year.
"Plus my boy, next year he wants to do it too," Mr Chayna said.
"He's already doing a 280-kilometre ride in two weeks' time.
"That was her passion, to do it, that maybe one day they'll find a cure.
"Maybe not in her days, but at least for family, friends, or whoever.
"That's what kept her together, I really believe.
"They only gave her six months to 12 months when she was diagnosed, she ended up having more than five years."
"Donna wasn't a cyclist until she got the cancer, that's what's extraordinary - she was such a role model," Mrs McAlpine said.
"I rode with her the last three years.
"She was a such a battler, such an incredible role model for strength in adversity."
The event will take place on Saturday, May 16 from 1.30pm-5.30pm at 8 Brown Street, Kiama.
For a donation of $60, you will be treated to live music, yoga, a massage and afternoon tea.
Pampering treats include make-up demonstrations, manicures, pedicures, art classes and creative writing classes.
Males will also be catered for with healthy relationship tips,mini-classes on how to be a better listener and spicing up your love life from relationship therapists.
There will also be a silent auction.
■Register and/or donate at conquercancer.org.au/site/TR/Events/Sydney2015?px=1536901&pg=personal&fr_id=1220 website, or phone 4233 2865 for more details.