Former NZ Cancer Patient Enters Elite Mountain Race in Japan

Former NZ Cancer Patient Enters Elite Mountain Race in Japan

Wellington man Nick White is heading to Japan this month to take part in a running race up Mt Fuji to raise money for research into different ways of treating cancer.

39 year old Nick lost half his tongue after head and neck cancer five years ago and was given only a 50 per cent chance of surviving five years.

The tongue was rebuilt by Dr Swee Tan, head and neck cancer specialist at Hutt Hospital, and Executive Director and cancer researcher at the Wellington based Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, in an operation that took all day. Months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed.

“It has been a long and challenging experience, and I have needed a lot of help from others along the way,’ says Nick.

Now he has paid his own way to Japan where he will be one of only 50 overseas athletes accepted into the Fuji Summit Race and hopes to raise at least $1 for every metre of the mountain’s height: $3776.

“I am doing this as a personal challenge and by doing so I’m hoping to raise awareness and financial support for the GMRI. I want to celebrate my 5th year alive by doing something meaningful to give back to the people who have helped me survive.

“I have chosen to raise funds for the GMRI because it is an organisation with world leading, proven excellence in cancer research.”

The race up Mt Fuji takes place on Friday July 25.

To donate to Nick White’s fundraising challenge please you can go to http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/nickrunsupmtfuji

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