Harmony Te Meihana says she has been fully supported throughout her cancer treatment.
Harmony Te Meihana says she has been fully supported throughout her cancer treatment.
Almost a year after being diagnosed with cancer, Harmony Te Meihana is praising the support of CanTeen for being one of the good things to come out of being sick.
The 22-year-old from Hastings is going to be a marshall at the Mitre10 Megawalk this weekend after a year ofbattling a rare tumour in her sinuses. All funds raised through registrations go to CanTeen. Ms Te Meihana was diagnosed about a week before Christmas last year and said the news "caused heartache" to her friends and family. The cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), is a malignant mass that grows quickly, can often return and can be inoperable. "After hearing all of this unfortunate news, we started to look it up," she said. "My mum started to research about cancer and see what I could do to help my situation."
She started eating healthy, cut out sugar and meat, and began an exercise regimen.
Ms Te Meihana said that after the changes her health started to improve and she responded well to chemotherapy. "My tumour isn't nearly as big as it was, surgery is now an option. I feel healthier than I did prior to getting my cancer and Kerrie from CanTeen walked into my life."
She said CanTeen had "done everything" for her since the diagnosis.
Ms Te Meihana said she felt inspired to be part of the walk this Sunday to give back to the organisation that had been there for her. The walk takes place this Sunday and there are four events to cater to all abilities.
The Mega, a 28km run or walk, begins at Mitre 10 in Hastings and ends at Mitre 10 in Napier. The Hawke's Bay Today half mega is a 15km run or walk beginning in Awatoto. The MoreFM short mega is 6.5km and the Mega Meander is a 3.5km walk starting in Ahuriri.
