Calling all riders, it's rare we join in with the HOG riders but they have invited us on a ride for a worthy cause. Breast Cancer Ride 2026 is close to the heart of Darin and his wife who have made their way through the breast cancer journey to the other side. Here is her story.
The morning my life changed,
I felt a lump, everything changed from that point, my charmed live had hit a curve that I was not at all expecting.
I did the right thing, went to the doctors, was referred to for a mammogram, and the curve ball really hit me hard.
I was then sent off for blood tests, biopsies, had several markers implanted to mark the ‘naughty lump’ we called it
I had breast cancer.
We have all lost loved ones to what has started out as a little lump, and it suddenly ended up as a death sentence.
I was very lucky, I caught mine early, but, even when your told that, you can’t stop thinking, what if….
I joked about it, gave it a nickname, kept the smile and jokes up, but inside I was a mess,
I spent what felt like a lifetime wondering if tomorrow was my last, my thoughts turned quite dark.
I was very lucky to have a very supportive partner who made changes in his life, to make my journey easier for me, but it is a very private solo journey.
I would lay awake at night, making decisions, for the ‘what if’ situations, if they ever arose, I would be prepared.
I was provided contact details to the breast cancer team; these people were my saviour.
I was in contact with a very supportive volunteer who would just let me talk, let me cry, let me do whatever I needed to do to get through the next day. I could tell them things that scared me, that I couldn’t tell my partner, often what I thought, would have broken his heart.
These are the unsung heroes they are there, through all the horrible moments, they ask for nothing, they often get nothing in return, they offer their time for free, no expectations, no rewards.
The breast cancer foundation offers services that get little to no funding, they rely solely on donations. they pay for parking when you go for chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they help with support people, to come with you to appointments, or just to talk to, there is financial support when needed, assistance in finding drug trials, research and the most important funded breast screening for all eligible woman. Their vision is Zero deaths from Breast cancer.
After a successful surgery, I have been given the all clear, I do still have to go through mammograms and have 5 years of clear scans, then I will be cancer free-in remission.
Let's support them and the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.