Support my challenge to end pancreatic cancer
💜Honouring My Mum This Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month💜
September has arrived, and with it, a sea of purple ribbons. For many, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is just a date on the calendar. But for me, it is a deeply personal time of reflection, remembrance, and love. It is the month I dedicate entirely to honouring the memory of my incredible mum Donna Tui Taiawa .
When my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, our world shifted on its axis. It is a disease known for its brutal speed and heavy statistics. But statistics cannot capture the essence of who my mum was. They don't measure her laughter, her kindness, or the fierce love she had for her family, her children but mostly for her moko's.
Watching her navigate her battle was heartbreaking, but it was also a profound masterclass in grace and resilience. Even on her darkest, most exhausting days, her spirit remained completely unbroken. She showed me that true strength isn't about winning every battle; it is about how you choose to live, love, and fight through the storm.
Though she is no longer here with us, the lessons she taught me and the love she left behind are alive and well.
Pancreatic cancer is often called a silent killer because its early symptoms—like persistent back pain, indigestion, or unexpected weight loss—are so easy to ignore. That is why I am sharing her story this September. If her journey can inspire even one person to listen to their body, visit a doctor, or advocate for their health, then her legacy continues to save lives.
To my mum: we miss you every single day our love for you will never fade and the memories we will forever remember 💜 but especially this month.
Thank you for your endless love, your quiet bravery and strength and for being my best friend and my hero.
💜 i wear purple for you, always.
And to anyone else who has lost a loved one to this cruel disease, or who is currently standing by a family member in the fight: I see you. Your grief and your love matter. Together, we can turn our heartbreak into awareness, ensuring our loved ones are never forgotten.
So this September, I'm challenging myself to get up, get moving and walk 78km to fight this terrible disease.
Please make a donation to support me, and together...
We will remember them. We will honour them. We will fight for them.
