Leah Edmonds, Manager, Integrated Recruitment, Future Students, has taken part in the Relay for Life since 2021, after losing her Dad, Johnny Edmonds, to cancer in 2020.
“My Dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2016. Originally the indications were that he didn’t have a huge amount of time left—less than a year. But Dad was strong. He kept going. They tried various treatments, including a drug trial; some helped, and some didn’t,” Leah says.
“In 2020 he went downhill quite suddenly, and it was at the start of COVID-19 lockdown, unfortunately. We were lucky to be able to bring Dad home for his last few weeks. Despite lots of the COVID-19 restrictions, we were lucky as a whānau to be there, to care for Dad and surround him with love, memories, laughs, music, and comfort.”
Leah says she hadn’t participated in the Relay for Life before, but when the opportunity came up to join the University team in 2021 she decided to take part alongside her colleagues. The date of the 2021 Relay for Life fell on her parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, and her Mum came to join for the candlelight ceremony.
“You really don't expect this to happen to your whānau. You know it happens to lots of people, but you just really don't expect it to be your own.
“We were lucky because our immediate whānau are all based in Wellington, and we are all are really close.” Leah is one of four daughters, with six grandchildren between them.
“Most of us would go to Dad’s appointments and he'd always have people with him. He didn’t have to do it alone.
“But being in hospital and seeing others that didn’t have their support system there, it really highlights the importance of what the Cancer Society does. Even just having a driver to get them to their appointments. Knowing they can be so unwell and they've got someone to support them practically and mentally. The Cancer Society do a lot.”
Her Dad was the pou—the pillar—of their whānau, Leah says, and she named her son Kahukura Johnny Edmonds Peita after his Koro (grandfather). He passed away not long after her son’s first birthday.
Leah still gets emotional talking about her Dad. “It’s taken some adjustment for everyone. It still feels unfair sometimes. He was very supportive, he was driven, and he did all that he could for us girls, for our wider whānau, iwi, and community.
“He was always, always in our corner.”
When it comes to the Relay for Life event, Leah says she likes to do as many laps as she can, although she leaves the runners to run the baton.
In 2023, Leah’s daughter Ataaria, who was ten at the time, stayed the whole night, and did 19 kilometres round the track.
“She loved it. She brought the energy, the chats, the enthusiasm and loved being part of the VUW team! One minute she was running laps, the next she was taking part in group Zumba, then eating donuts, and then into her oodie for a quick nap before heading back out onto the track! She designed her candle bag for Koro and joined in the candlelight ceremony. Ataaria is 100 percent on board again for this year, pressuring her aunties and uncles to sponsor her. So it's not just staff and current students, you can bring your whānau too.”
Leah says it’s great to have colleagues and students get involved, to come together as the University team for this cause that touches everyone’s lives at some point. Currently there are about 80 team members registered, but the committee is anticipating a few more between now and the weekend.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban is a Cancer Society Patron and leads the charge for the University team every year.
Dame Winnie says, “Leah’s message and story reminds us of our humanity and why we are committed to come together as a Te Herenga Waka family and community team to offer our love and support to all those impacted by Cancer.
“Leah and Des Kelly have helped to bring this team together, working tirelessly to organise the team, and the logistics for this Saturday."
The committee would also like to thank our sponsors The Lab, Compass catering, and the Vice-Chancellor, who donated the registration fees for our students, and the branded relay t-shirts.
Please donate to the University’s Relay for Life team, and support the Cancer Society and their valuable and much-needed advocacy, support, and research.