Nicole White was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour shortly after turning 17. Photo / TNR Protography
On November 14, White will run the Queenstown Marathon, aiming to raise $10,000 for Brain Tumour Support NZ.
“Running has always been my outlet,” White said,
“When I was diagnosed with this brain tumour when I was 17, you know, there were some really dark moments. I could just go out for a run, put some headphones in, disconnect from the world.
“It feels kind of like a good full-circle moment to bring it back to running and, you know, to do this marathon as the fundraiser.”
For White, the fundraiser is about shining a light on an organisation she says has played an important role supporting people living with brain tumours and their families.
Nicole White hopes to raise $10,000 for Brain Tumour Support NZ through the marathon. Photo / TNR Protography
White said Brain Tumour Support NZ was an “amazing organisation”, and their advocacy often goes under the radar.
“They do so much for us brain tumour survivors as well as brain tumour survivor families as well.
“They are doing all this advocacy in the background that often doesn’t get recognised.
“They are pushing for new medications to be funded throughout New Zealand for people suffering from brain tumours – that just kind of doesn’t really happen in its own steam.
“I’m just so grateful for that support and, you know, they are the core of whole fundraiser for me.”
For White, the marathon also represents that people are more than a diagnosis.
Nicole White has had four brain surgeries and two types of chemotherapy and radiation. Photo / TNR Protography
It is also a reminder of how far she has come since her diagnosis at 17, and of the importance of not illness to define her.
“You hear somebody who’s battling cancer and you have this preconceived idea of what that looks like.
“When I was first diagnosed, I had that preconceived idea of what that looked like in my brain that, you know, I was going to lose my hair and I was going to be really sick.
“Back yourself and be like, actually no, I can do stuff.
“This illness does not define who I am, and for me personally, it was always like, this isn’t going to take away from what I want to do.”
However, White also shared other ways to support people going through a cancer battle.
“Money’s really hard push for everyone in this economy, so there’s other ways that people can help,” White said.
“It’s all about having those conversations, you know, those uncomfortable conversations that I think are so important.
“If you know somebody that’s going through this journey, have those uncomfortable conversations.
“Nine times out of 10, the person who’s going through that journey actually wants to talk about it, but they don’t want to be the one to bring it up.
“That’s kind of what this whole campaign is about is about – raising awareness to these illnesses. I just encourage everyone to really look after each other really at the end of the day.”
Those wanting to support White can do so by visiting the ‘Why Not Me?” Facebook page.