The Star: July 11, 2024

The Star Thursday July 11 2024
8
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Mum’s heartfelt news: ‘Our loved
About 9500 Kiwis
die of cancer every
year. Promising
harness racing trainer
driver Katie Cox has
become one of them,
succumbing to lung
cancer late last week
“IT IS WITH the heaviest of
broken hearts our loved Katie
passed peacefully away this
morning.”
That is how Cox’s mother
Wendy broke the news on
Facebook last week after the
34-year-old, who had huge public
support, lost her battle with
cancer.
Cox had been diagnosed with
a rare form of lung cancer in
October, which prompted a Canterbury
harness racing industry
fundraiser for medication she
needed to fight the disease.
Cox had started to go downhill
early last week.
Said Wendy: “The high dose of
steroids she was on to deal with
the toxicity in her lungs showed
a form of pneumonia on Monday
from the blood test and CT scan.
That night she started on strong
antibiotics and knew the next
four days were going to be difficult
to get through.
“As determined as she was,
CANCER BATTLE: Katie Cox with Spy Da Moment in November. Cox lost her battle with
lung cancer last week.
PHOTO: DANIEL ALVEY
and being on direct oxygen and
concentrators her lungs struggled
with getting enough oxygen
and she passed away peacefully
this morning.
“She approached cancer and
the myriad of drugs she took to
get through this with determination,
integrity and tenacity.”
Since her diagnosis last year,
the Leeston-based trainer driver
had massive support from the
harness racing community, and
others. Thanks to a fund-raising
effort co-ordinated by close
friend and mental health advocate
Craig Wiggins, more than
$340,000 was raised to help Cox
get the medication she needed.
“Katie brought us all together
in her journey and it’s important
that we all support each other
and her closest the most,” Wiggins
posted on Facebook.
“We know this is a shock to
you all and the hurt will be deep
and the loss you feel real.”
Cox was humbled and
extremely grateful for all that
support. Just four weeks ago
she said: “It’s incredible. I can’t
emphasise enough how grateful
I am for everything, the texts,
the calls. People have been
wonderful.”
Her comments came after
she drove her own horse Spy
Da Moment to win a trial at
Ashburton. At the time she said
her health had taken a turn for
the worse, but she remained
optimistic.
Since news of her death was
made public there has been
an outpouring of sympathy
with many taking to social
media in particular to offer
their condolences.
Many spoke of their sadness
and of Cox’s bravery throughout
the last few months.
“A beautiful soul taken far too
soon,” said one.
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