Constable Anton Kuraia inspired many of his journey of life.
PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
Constable Anton Kuraia inspired many of his journey of life.
PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
Anton Kuraia made the most of his journey in life.
The Whangarei police officer, husband and father of three sons touched the lives of many in such a positive way when he embarked on his Walk of Hope to raise funds for The 809 Foundation in 2015. It was awalk that took him from the Whangarei Police Station to the steps of Parliament in Wellington.
But on Saturday the 46-year-old's journey came to an end and a legend was lost. Mr Kuraia was diagnosed in April 2013 with acute myeloid leukemia - a type of blood cancer usually fatal within a few months.
He changed his diet, took intravenous vitamin C and 10 weeks later a bone marrow biopsy showed a complete remission of the cancer.
"My Walk for Hope became the journey of amazing people," Mr Kuraia told the crowd as he stood on the steps of Parliament after his 31-day hike.
Whangarei policeman Constable Anton Kuraia celebrates on the steps of the Beehive with supporters and family after his 31-day, 809km walk from Whangarei to Wellington.
PHOTO/KRISTIN EDGE
He will never know just how many people he inspired during his trip.
"I came out of hospital and I had some options. That's what the charity is all about - making sure we can subsidise some of these options and let people feel comfortable about those options, in particular intravenous vitamin C, and just to get on with it.
"Vitamin C doesn't work for everyone but it will work for some people. The long-term goal is to make sure what we have started here continues," he said.
Constable Anton Kuraia inspired many on his hike from Whangarei to Wellington. PHOTO/KRISTIN EDGE
Mr Kuraia returned to the force and worked at last year's Waitangi Day celebrations as part of the police iwi liaison team. His cancer returned in April and he was given the news he would survive only another month. Again he showed steely determination and enjoyed another summer with his family. He is survived by his wife, Louise, and three sons Sebastian, Julius and Luca.
Anton Kuraia on day two of his 31-day, 809km walk to raise awareness and funds for alternative cancer treatments. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
Mr Kuraia will be Pehiaweri Marae this morning until his funeral service. A mass will be held at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 12.10pm followed by a main service at Newburys Funeral Home at 2pm.
