Kate Wightman is walking the length of Aotearoa to raise awareness for gynaecological cancers. Photo: Supplied
Former elite cyclist Kate Wightman was just 29 years old when she was diagnosed with three types of gynaecological cancer.
Two years later she's walking the [Te Araroa Trail https://www.teararoa.org.nz/] to raise awareness and money for gynaecological cancer research and education.
Wightman spoke to First Up from Colac Bay and said at times she questioned whether tackling the walk was really a good idea.
"It was a lot of scrambling up really steep hills ... all the lovely plants that cut you up. A lot of difficult terrain and bush bashing which I didn't expect."
She said the thigh-deep mud in Longwood Forest, in Southland, was also not much fun.
"There were a couple of parts where I questioned my sanity."
Walking was the only exercise Wightman could manage while undergoing cancer treatment and she wanted to set herself a goal, she said.
"It was something to really just take my mind away from being a patient, being in the hospital, and think about walking the Te Araroa was what kept me going everyday, so yeah it was a really nice goal to have."
She had been walking an average 8-10 hours a day and had just two days left before she reacheed Stirling Point in Bluff.
She invited people to come along on Saturday afternoon to celebrate.
Photo: @kate.wightman
"I've been very very surprised, in a nice way, just the generosity and the kindness of people on the trail but also people that up their homes, or just give you a hot meal, or a shower.
"It's just been incredible and something that I think I'll remember more than the landscapes to be honest."
Wightman said the five types of gynaecological cancers had lots of different symptoms, including irregular bleeding, abdominal pain and bloating.
She urged everyone to take note of changes in their body and be comfortable talking to a health professional about them.
