Many of you know her from her trip to the states. Noted OZ canyoneer is in the news (front page!), raising awareness and finding more adventure. Good luck and safe passage! Still time to sponsor her trip and contribute to the good cause.
http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/565714/cancer-fighter-is-ready-to-take-on-mount-cook/?cs=115
By LOUISE EDDY Nov. 3, 2012, 4:30 a.m.
Faced with a devastating diagnosis of cervical cancer, Bathurst woman Julie Burton gave herself an enormous challenge – to climb New Zealand’s highest peak. See your ad here
At almost 4000 metres, Mount Cook is the highest mountain in all of Australasia.
The 51-year-old will leave Bathurst next Saturday for Queenstown where she will prepare for the climb of her life.
She will be making the daunting assault on Mount Cook accompanied only by a guide. If the weather is kind to them it will take between 16 and 20 hours.
Ms Burton, who will prepare for her run with a couple of 2000 metre climbs, is excited and, naturally, a little nervous.
“If I succeed, when I stand on top of Mount Cook it is going to be more than a climbing achievement, it will be a triumph over adversity,” she said.
“I am doing it for all the women who are standing in the same shoes and also for those who haven’t made it.”
She said cervical cancer is the most preventable cancer of all because it can be detected early through regular pap smears.
Like the 40 per cent of women who don’t have a pap smear every two years, however, Ms Burton wasn’t diagnosed until the disease was in its late stages.
She is using the climb to raise awareness and money for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation through the Everyday Hero website.
Ms Burton was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
“It came on quite suddenly and I was so ill I knew something was seriously wrong,” she said.
Her treatment began with a full hysterectomy in April followed by chemotherapy and radiation which only finished in July.
She said it is too early to know whether the treatment was successful or what the long-term prognosis will be, but she sees the cancer as an enemy to be beaten.
“It’s not going to take my life away from me,” she said.
“I’ve always been extremely fit, and I believe that helped my recovery.
“I’ve spent many years canyoning and caving, and only recently took up mountaineering.
“As I have been going through all this, getting back into these activities was my number one goal. It kept me focused.
“I needed to look through the cancer to coming out the other side.
“You can’t just say `it’s over red rover’ and accept it.
“Even if the cancer isn’t gone I have this time to grab life with both hands, and it’s more meaningful for that.”
Ms Burton has been training six days a week with cardio and weights.
She has also gone back to canyoning, carrying a heavy backpack up and down mountainous terrain near Mount Wilson.
Ms Burton, who has been canyoning in Australia and New Zealand for 18 years, took up mountaineering four years ago. See your ad here
She said what she loved most was the opportunity it gave her to go into pristine wilderness areas.
“It feels like you are the first person who has ever been there.”
Those who wish to sponsor Ms Burton should visit http://www.everydayhero.com.au/julie_burton