Friends unite for Pink Star

The Wangamamas are getting ready for the walk in Wellington - Nicky Pearce (left), Cath Cranstone, Juanita Forlong, Kristy Whittington, Rochelle Warner, Courtney Forlong, Linda O'Neill and Fi Bullock. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

Wanganui's very own Hot Pink Wangamamas will be hitting Wellington this week to raise money for breast cancer research - and to remember a friend who lost her battle with the disease in February.

Myf Cairncross, a 42-year-old mother-of-three, had been fighting her cancer for three years.

"She was just a beautiful, amazing mother," said friend Fi Bullock.

Mrs Cairncross was part of a group of friends who have now joined together for the Pink Star Walk in Wellington on Saturday.

Kristy Whittington, who has just finished treatment for cancer herself, is one of the group.

"The hardest part was just the emotional journey," she said.

"It never feels like it's ended. You just realise how quickly your life can be taken."

Mrs Cairncross's death made it worse, the 36-year-old said.

"That was really rough for me going through treatment, especially when you're having chemo, you're at your lowest, feeling like you aren't even going to survive."

After chemo and a mastectomy, Mrs Whittington is doing well, but isn't out of the woods yet. All the women in the group had been affected in some way by cancer, particularly breast cancer, said member Cath Cranstone.

"So many of us have had young friends and mothers ... that's the horrible thing about this strain of cancer, it catches them at all ages."

The women are fundraising for the walk and have so far raised $2490 at the time of printing, more than twice their $1000 target. People can go to pinkstarwalk.co.nz/page/hotpinkwangamamas to donate.