Media Release

April 27, 2012

Sisters In Arms Arrive Home

When Sally Blackler embarked on the long walk from Auckland to Christchurch late last month she knew she had some big boots to fill.

She is retracing the footsteps of her late husband Sergeant Nathan Blackler who was a Physical Training Instructor for the NZ Army. Nathan completed the same journey eight years ago, starting in Auckland and finishing at Burnham Military Camp, just outside of Christchurch, raising $65,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation along the way.

Nathan, who was in remission from cancer at the time of his walk, decided to complete the fundraising mission as a way of giving back to some of those who had helped him through his journey with cancer. Sadly Nathan’s cancer returned and he passed away on March 23, 2007.

Now, five years later, his wife, her good friend and workmate, Corporal Natasha Donaldson, and her fundraising team, Sisters in Arms, will take up the challenge again, this time with the funds raised going to CanTeen. Sally, a social worker for Challenge 2000 and Youth Development Unit (YDU) South, says CanTeen is a cause close to her heart.

Over the past six weeks Sally has walked around 30km a day, with seven rest days in between, and she will reach her destination, the Youth Development Unit Parade Ground at Burnham Military Camp on May 1. She has had plenty of friends around her to keep her sane throughout the journey, with friends and family as well as several Defence physical training instructors throughout the country to walk with her and wave her on and joining her as she passes through each region.

Media are invited to attend Sally and Natasha’s welcome home at Burnham Military Camp:

When: 1230pm, Tuesday 1 May

Where: Burnham Military Camp, Main Gate (please note that you will be required to carry photographic ID)

Please contact Zen Gregor on 0212243367 if you wish to attend her homecoming at Burnham.

Sally and Tash will also be in the Christchurch CBD attending a lunch at Canteen at 1pm on Monday April 30 and fundraising by walking down Riccarton Road at approximately 3pm the same day. If you wish to make contact with Sally and the team during this time please phone: 021 511 079.

CanTeen is the only New Zealand peer support organisation for young people aged 13 to 24 living with cancer as a patient, sibling or bereaved sibling.

Donations can be made to Sally’s fundraising group, Sisters in Arms, www.sistersinarms.co.nz or by calling 0900 4 CANTEEN to make an automatic $20 donation.

For more information visit www.sistersinarms.co.nz

ENDS