In 2008 I shaved my shoulder length hair off to raise money for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Research Trust.  I decided to do it after a conversation with my kids about the importance of standing up for what you believe in.  Having just told them that if they believed strongly enough in something they should be prepared to take action for it, they promptly asked what I was prepared to stand up for.  In 2007 I had written two articles for Annah Stretton's PINK magazine about Herceptin and had been moved by not only the women I'd interviewed but by the people campaigning for the drug to be subsidised in New Zealand: from oncologists to politicians to lawyers to housewives.  I thought about it for a while then found myself saying I was prepared to shave my head to raise money for research to find a cure. The kids - unsurprisingly - were horrified.  They had coped when I had collected money for Pink Ribbon Day dressed as a pink fairy but a bald pink fairy?  Anyway I did it - hoping to raise $200 - in the end we raised over $2,000.

The thing is not only did the kids get a lesson - I did too.  And I felt really good that I had done something tangible to help.  Then last year a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Then another.  Then another.  I would think of them as I waited for my hair to grow back - grateful it could and would - and prayed for a cure.  Then a few months ago a friend - film and theatre director Anna Marbrook - was diagnosed with the damned disease.  I have a huge love and admiration for Anna  - we're the same age but I always joke I want to be Anna when I grow up.  Watch for her story in Women of Inspiration - and you'll see why.  Anyway I was devestated when I heard she was sick and have been on a crusade ever since.  Which brings us to the Triathlon.

The Contact Tri Woman series  starts in January - and one of the events is in April in Maraetai, just two kilometres down the road from us.  It took me five minutes to make my mind up.  I should say I have done one duathlon before - in 2007 - but that's the extent of my athletic involvement.  Once upon a time, many moons ago I was quite a strong swimmer and I did used to bike several kilometres to work before a broken knee put an end to it.  But that was a good twenty years ago - long before pregnancy, child birth, dinner parties and the like became a part of life. These days I walk the dog and do a yoga class once a week.  I love yoga but it's hardly preparation for 300m swim, 10km bike ride, and 3km run/walk. 

Welcome The Man of The House (TMoTH) as my coach.  He has taken on the not so enviable task of getting me in shape  - and as far away from chocolate as he can - by April 11.  He used to play rugby and run half marathons - he should be up to it.  I hope. 

I'll post my progress on here as we go along - along with all the vital stats and hopefully give you a few smiles along the way.  If you could make a donation to your local Breast Cancer Research Trust/Association - it would be wonderful. And don't hesitate to post your comments - I would love to hear from you.

www.tri.co.nz/default.asp