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The Star 3
News
Latest Christchurch news at www.
.kiwi
Thursday March 9 2017
Sick bed to City2Surf
• By Gabrielle Stuart
TURNAROUND: Leanne Crawford has put poor health behind her and is looking
forward to the City2Surf.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
JUST A year ago, Leanne Crawford could barely walk, had lost 30kg,
was constantly sick, and had to put both her work and her wedding
on hold – and she had no idea what was going wrong.
This month, she will take on the 14km The Star City2Surf with
Mike Pero Real Estate event, which she will walk, and she won’t
be doing it alone.
Her partner, friends and many of the nurses who helped her
get on her feet again plan to do the walk beside her – 41 people
in total – raising money to help others with the same condition
get treatment.
The 30-year-old began feeling sick in 2014, but initially
doctors did not know what was wrong.
It took almost two years for her to be diagnosed and find
a treatment, because she was facing a complex mix of parasites
in her intestines, crohn’s disease and endometriosis.
For much of that time she couldn’t work, and she had to
postpone her wedding three times.
“It was like my life was turned upside down. It was
really, really frightening just not knowing what was
going on,” she said.
After a Christchurch gastroenterology specialist,
Steven Ding, diagnosed her problems, she has made
a gradual recovery.
But she said it was only possible because of
the help she received, and the diagnosis tools
provided by the Canterbury Bowel and Liver
Trust.
“The things that finally got me well cost a lot
of money, so I wanted to give something back,”
she said.
She has already raised almost $1500 through
people sponsoring her run.
She said she had never done anything like the
City2Surf before, and after being sick for so long
being able to cross the finish line would feel like
a giant victory.
“I’m sure there will be tears,” she said.
“I finally feel like I’ve got my life back. I can’t
go for drinks or dinner like normal, but I am
still able to work, which is amazing.”
She works for Bupa as an activity organiser,
and said they held her job for her, in spite of the
fact she was off work for three months.
She has also rescheduled her wedding, and
plans to marry her partner of eight years, Craig
Corboy, this December.
“I’m determined I’m going to get down the
aisle this time,” she said.
•Church challenge, p13
•The Star City2Surf with Mike Pero Real
Estate, Sunday, March 19, 14km or 6km
option walk, jog or run, $25
Entries available at Pak’NSave, New
World, The Athletes Foot, YMCA and
online at www.city2surf.co.nz
In Brief
$1000 REWARD
Police are speaking to a witness
who said he saw a vehicle in a
Burwood paddock where a horse
was attacked and needed to be
destroyed. Gus, a seven-year-old
standardbred, had to be shot
by a police officer after he was
found badly injured at about
5am on February 18. Owner
Karina Romeyn said she has
passed on the details of a man
who came forward and said he
saw a vehicle chasing the horse
on the morning Gus was found
hurt. She has offered $1000 on
top of $278 raised on a Givealittle
page to be given to anyone who
has information that leads to
a conviction. Information can
be sent to karinaromeyn@
outlook.com, phone 363 7400
or report anonymously through
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
JELLYFISH WARNING
Blue bottle jellyfish have been
washing up on the city’s beaches
over the last week. The jellyfish
make a regular appearance during
summer, and the city council’s
coastal park rangers are warning
people to stay away from them to
avoid being stung. Head ranger
Kelly Hansen said they had
received reports of them from
Sumner to North Beach. Blue
bottles have venomous tentacles
which sting, and leave red welts
on the skin.
BID TO REPLANT RESERVE
THe Summit Road Society is
calling for donations and other
community support to help with
restoring Ohinetahi Reserve,
which lost about 80ha in the
recent Port Hills fire. People
wishing to fund new trees at
$10 each can donate via www.
summitroadsociety.org.nz or
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/
ohinetahireserve. The society
has already ordered thousands
of plants. People are also needed
to help collect this season’s seed
from suitable Port Hills’ plants
so it can be sown this winter.
For more information phone
the society on 326 3035 or email
summitroadsocietysecretary@
gmail.com
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Living with Atrial Fibrillation?
You Are Not Alone
The Heart Foundation invites you to an information session to
discuss living with Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
Following a short presentation about AF and medicines that are
used to treat this condition, this informal session will open up
to those wanting to share their experiences or to ask questions.
Whanau are more than welcome.
When: Tuesday 14 March at 10.30am
OR Thursday 23 March at 5pm
Healthy snacks will be served at this FREE event
Where: Heart Foundation Office, Unit 5, 357 Madras Street
Register: RSVP to Emma or Jenny on 03 366 2112
Email emmag@heartfoundation.org.nz
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Call now: 356 2324
* Conditions apply. Offer valid till April 30th 2017
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Audiologist