Gaylene, who is 58 years old and lives in Lower Hutt, is doing the Wellington Pink Ribbon Walk for the second time, after being diagnosed with breast cancer last September. She had 30 friends joining her on the 5km walk last year, which she tackled just after having a mastectomy and waiting for chemotherapy to start. This year she’s planning to do the 10km walk with and so far 20 of her friends have signed up to join her.

Gaylene said: “Personally, I want to do the walk again this year as I have had such wonderful support from the Breast Cancer Foundation over the past 12 months. And of course on the day, the whole event is such fun, provides us with plenty of laughs, and we get our needed exercise. A win-win for everyone.”