Anita Paling's Fundraising Page

Another training session

My first real taste of off-road running

The Paling Family

Hey, you've made it.

I reckon that means you're here for two reasons.

1. To find out why I'm raising money and figure out if I can do an honest job ;-)
2. To make a donation - yay!

I'm raising money for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation of New Zealand.

I wanted to do something useful. Something more than sitting on the sidelines watching the effects of cancer on my father-in-law, Chris Paling.

It was around the time Mark and I got married that Chris started feeling really unwell. It took a while before he went to the Doctor and then endured a raft of tests to find out why he was so unwell.

Then the news came he had Cancer. Multiple Myeloma. Yeah, I didn't know what it was either. But I was very quick to Google it and find out enough to know it was a rarer form of blood cancer but no less devastating than any cancer.

To cut to the chase, with a stem cell transplant Chris was finally in remission.

Yay! But it wasn't over. Cancer had robbed him of the enjoyment he once had. All the tests, the stays in hospital the rounds of Chemo, it all took the joy from him life.

Even after being told you're in remission, if you've been poked, prodded, suffered endless mouth ulcers, unable to eat and wasting away, remission doesn't necessarily mean you get a new lease of life.

Despite being in remission, today (5-June-2010)I learnt that there's "signs" of the cancer coming back.

See even when you're in remission you still tread on egg shells wondering if it's really gone. Some would take their second chance and live life to the fullest again. It didn't quite pan out that way for Chris. He's continued to battle the effects of the cancer even though it had been in remission.

I feel helpless. I can see the effect the cancer has had on the entire family unit.

But there is something I can do to help. It's just a small thing. But I hope it'll make a big difference. Maybe not today, maybe not in time to give Chris his life back, but I believe it'll help others, who unfortunately find themselves in need.

And you can help too. Please make a donation.

I know it's not easy to find extra money. But hopefully you'll find a way to help me out. To help Chris out. To help those others who are suffering a similar fate that Cancer has dealt.

Chris doesn't know I'm raising funds. I'm sure he'd be slightly embarrassed by your generosity. But I know he'd say thank you. I say thank you. Thank you!

Select the "Make a donation" button below. It's simple, fast and totally secure.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

So please sponsor me now!