News and Media

Friday 31 March 2023

Bowen Icon Cancer doctors, Dr Anna Nicholson and Dr Kate Clarke took part in an extraordinary 6 day coast to coast adventure to raise money for the Gut Cancer Foundation.

We spoke with Dr Anna Nicholson about her and Dr Kate Clarkes extraordinary efforts to fundraise for something they are so passionately dedicated to.

“On March 23, Dr Kate Clarke and I joined a varied group of 12  (including farmers, surgeons and an architect) on the Gut Cancer Foundation Coast to Coast Challenge. This annual event raises much needed funds to support research into GI cancers – vital in the New Zealand environment where such funding is difficult to access. As recent recipients of a grant which will facilitate research into the role of stereotactic radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy in locally advanced pancreas cancer, we were keen to support the Foundation while challenging ourselves in some of New Zealand’s wild and gorgeous scenery.

Our 6 day, 248km event took us biking, hiking and rafting from Ross to the New Brighton pier. It was a mixed bag of glorious sunshine, drizzle and bitter cold as the surprise southerly change saw temperatures drop to 3 degrees with wind and rain for our 75 km cycle from Darfield to Christchurch.  The camaraderie was excellent, there was only one head wound, and so far we have raised close to $55,000 for a cause dear to our hearts. Many thanks to our individual and corporate sponsors, including Evolution Healthcare for their support in our endeavours to do better for our patients.” – Dr Anna Nicholson

Dr Kate Clarke had this to say, “The Gut Cancer Challenge is a highlight of my year” with “amazing people, heartbreakingly beautiful scenery and the opportunity to raise awareness and money for Gut Cancer research. This year we raised more than $50000. This will mean access to potentially practice changing research for NZers with gut cancers. This year’s participants were from all walks of life; from surgeons and dairy farmers to a semi-retired biochemistry professor aged 79″

“Self-propelled travel from the West Coast to the East Coast of the South Island is not to be sneezed at. I have new found respect for those that do this as a race. I was very glad for the camaraderie of my fellow challengers.”