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Tauranga nurse takes on Polar Circle Marathon
Tauranga nurse takes on Polar Circle Marathon
Nicola
Wearne was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the
age of 38. “At one point I was on so much medication I
rattled” said Nicola.
After two years of battling unexplained joint pain and fatigue, she put her symptoms down to being a full time mum of two, working full time and being a keen runner.
But her nursing instinct told her something wasn’t quite right.
“I’d find myself trying to sleep sitting up. I went through a stage of not being able to lift the jug off the bench or to hold my arm up to put make up on”
After countless visits to her GP, Nicola was referred to a specialist, who diagnosed RA.
Nicola is now on medication that she injects every fortnight that has given her back her health.
To celebrate she will next month head off to Greenland to run in the Polar Circle marathon, the first NZ woman to compete in this challenging event.
She will have crampon on her shoes for around 8 kilometres, due to the terrain, and no venturing outside of the flags due to the crevasse risk!
This is a challenge for any runner, let alone one with arthritis.
‘I cant believe with medication help I’m now well enough to run on and around the giant icecaps of Greenland.
Tonight, Nicola will be the guest of Arthritis New Zealand and their Parliamentary friends of arthritis, in the Grand Hall, Parliament to launch the 2015 Arthritis Appeal.
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