Melanie Easley's Fundraising Page

My first Half Marathon with Sarah, Anna & Karen

Tauranga Half Ironman - my boys giving some encouragement!

Coastal Challenge - with Paulette & Sarah

My favourite sport - with Sarah & Karen

Well I am wondering what on earth I'm doing entering a Marathon - I must be insane! It's my girlfriend Sarah's fault - I have to blame someone!

When my family and I moved to NZ almost 5 years ago, someone from high was watching over me and introduced me to my best friends, Sarah & Karen, who were already 'active' athletes. They got me going on short runs to start with, then upto half marathon ability within a year. Then Karen had this fabulous (she thought) idea to do the Tauranga Half Ironman - wow, that took some training, but we did it! couldn't move for days after!

Then Paulette comes on the scene and starts pushing us even harder, faster and for longer! I come back from a training run feeling stuffed and ask myself 'why am I doing this?', then the girls and I have coffee and it miraculously doesn't feel so bad!

So now, apparently, I have to tick off the marathon box!

I thought as this is likely to be my only marathon, I should do it for a good cause, which is why you're reading about me! I'll do all the hard work and you just put your hands in your pockets and sponsor me! Easy!

Over to you….. and thank you in advance!

Here is some blurb…

Each day 16 New Zealanders die as a result of coronary heart disease. That's one person every 90 minutes. And many of these deaths are premature and preventable.

Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke & blood vessel disease) is the single leading cause of death in New Zealand. It causes 40 percent of all deaths annually in our country - making it more deadly than all forms of cancer.

The nature of who is affected by it is changing. New research shows that young adults in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to hospital for heart attacks more than ever before, and that this age group is dying at a faster rate than people of the same age in previous generations. Much of this change is due to unhealthy lifestyles - poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and being a smoker.

But the good news is that many risk factors for heart disease are preventable, if people make healthy lifestyle choices.

So, help me as I join the race to beat heart disease.

I've signed up as a Heart Racer to raise money to support The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. By donating through my webpage you will be helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work in research, cardiac rehabilitation, education programmes and resources.

I'll do training and complete the event, but I really need you to make a difference to the hearts of New Zealanders.

So, please could you sponsor me?

Select the "Make a donation" button below. It’s simple, fast and totally secure and the money goes directly to the Heart Foundation’s bank account.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

So please help me today! And pass it on to your family and friends!

Many thanks for your support