Nahne Marsters talks about her battle with stage four cancer.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say about Nahne Marsters.
I don't claim to be her closest friend, I've only known her a few years, but we have spent plenty of time together at Crossfit Rotorua and I have always been in aweof her power and strength.
Now, she is in the fight of her life with stage four gallbladder cancer and proving once and for all what an inspirational wāhine she is.
It feels as though in my three years at Crossfit Rotorua, every time I showed up for a class Nahne was in the kaha (strength) room working on her weightlifting. Always with that giant smile - I can't think of a time I've seen her in a bad mood.
Some people just have a welcoming aura about them, a kind and positive wairua, and Nahne was one of the first to talk to me and make me feel welcome at the gym. In return, I tell her every day I wish I was as strong as her - she can move a barbell in ways I can only dream of.
Even after being told she has months left to live, she is proving to be a pillar of strength and positivity. If I were in that situation, I think I would crawl away and sulk about it. I'd feel sorry for myself and wonder why it was happening to me.
But not Nahne.
She is doing everything she can to, in her words, "kick cancer's butt" and in my opinion, if anyone is going to beat the odds, it is her.
Last week, we had a fundraiser at Crossfit Rotorua to help Nahne pay for her treatments and it quickly became clear I am not the only one in the community with a tremendous amount of respect for this woman.
Gyms that would usually be fighting each other for members came from all over Bay of Plenty to show their support and raised more than $8400.
What touched me was the way everyone had a story to tell about a time Nahne has helped them, been there for them or showed support in some way.
Such is her influence on those around her that nobody has thought twice about supporting her in any way that they can. As she fights this horrible disease she will be surrounded by the support and aroha she deserves.
