A Coast to Coast Journey of Hope

In two weeks’ time, Briar Whaitiri will attempt something extraordinary.

She will cross Aotearoa from coast to coast, running, biking and kayaking 244 kilometres in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast. One of the world’s toughest endurance events. A challenge that demands everything from the body, and even more from the spirit.

But for Briar, this is not just a race.

It is a declaration of what is possible.

Where Briar’s why began

Briar’s journey started just over four years ago, at the age of 26.

Already navigating a cancer diagnosis, a reality she is still living with, her health suddenly collapsed following a serious adverse medical event. She became critically unwell, medically incapacitated, and was told the conditions she was facing would likely be chronic and lifelong.

It is the kind of moment that changes everything. Where the future narrows. Where hope can feel fragile.
What followed were years of trial and error. Relentless research. Small steps forward, setbacks, and the steady support of some incredible people who refused to let her give up.

Slowly, and against what she had been told was possible, Briar began to find her way back to health.

More than a finish line

Crossing the Coast to Coast finish line is not about medals or times.

For Briar, it is about anyone who has ever been told they cannot.

It is proof that limits are not always fixed. That healing is not always linear. And that sometimes, with the right care, support and patience, the body, like nature, can recover in ways we never imagined.

This race, Briar says, is to prove what is possible.

Nature, recovery, and turning pain into purpose.

This fundraiser came together almost by chance.

Briar bought a second-hand kayak from a Pest Free Token Trustee, logo and all. From there, the idea of collaboration felt obvious. Protecting Aotearoa’s native birds and restoring fragile ecosystems mirrors her own recovery journey.
Species once pushed to the brink, slowly returning when given protection and care. Forests regenerating. Birdsong returning to places where silence once lived.

Why not turn pain into purpose.

Why Look Good Feel Better?

Among the organisations Briar is fundraising for is Look Good Feel Better, because cancer does not just affect the body.

It can quietly erode confidence. Shake identity. Leave people feeling disconnected from who they were before diagnosis, even long after treatment ends.

Look Good Feel Better supports people to reconnect with themselves, offering practical, emotional and confidence building support during and after cancer. It is about being seen as a whole person, not a number and not a diagnosis.
For Briar, that kind of support matters deeply.

Giving forward together

All funds raised through Briar’s Coast to Coast challenge will be donated to Look Good Feel Better, Cure Kids, and Predator Free Muriwai.

As Briar runs, bikes and paddles across Te Waipounamu, she carries more than endurance gear. She carries hope for people facing cancer, for fragile ecosystems, and for anyone learning that healing is still possible.

Because sometimes, beating the odds starts with believing they are not permanent.

A special thank you to Briar for choosing to support Look Good Feel Better, and for turning her courage, determination and lived experience into something that will help others feel seen, supported and more like themselves, when they need it most.

Support Briar

Inspired by Briar? Start your own community fundraising challenge with us!