Jan Bensemann Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2009 Support Van Driver Click Here to Donate Now!

I have had cancer twice, breast cancer 1997,when I was 47,  and five years later a  

 (salivary gland) neck cancer. This means I have had several difference operations, and two different sessions of radio-therapy. I work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatry.

I was fortunate in that I joined ABREAST OF LIFE, dragon-boat in CHCH, New Zealand when the boat formed nine years ago. This had lead to so many amazing experiences, and I have made some really special friends. Sadly, our team has lost some brave women who lost their journey to breast cancer. I am externally grateful for my current good health, and these woman are held tightly in my heart, and join me on some amazing journeys, and will join me on this next exciting journey in May,2009.

 Our dragon-boat team achieved our joint dream of going to Vancouver, Canada 2005 for the tenth anniversary of the first dragon-boat teams inauguration. Unfortunately, I had a serious leg injury on my arrival in Canada, meaning that I was up the creek with-out a paddle!! I did not paddle there, and six weeks later on my return home, I had surgery to my badly injured leg. To compensate for this, I was fortunate to go to Calundra, Aus 2007, and entered the wonderful breast cancer dragon-boat competitions there. CHCH and Wgtn combined our teams, and we paddled with CANSURVIVE.

I will be 60 in March.2009, and I decided the Amazon heart Harley bike ride, would be a fantastic birthday present to my-self. Given my accident in Canada, I declined the option of riding the Harleys, and am very excited to be one of the four support van drivers.

I joined CHCH’s breast cancer support group when I was first diagnosed, and I have now facilitated this group for the past few years. Again, sadly some inspirational woman I met through the group have lost their breast cancer battle.

Strangely, breast cancer survivors, are so fortunate in the available support, if they choose to join support groups, dragon-boats, Harley Davis bike rides, etc,etc. With my second cancer experience, it would have been a very lonely experience as there is minimal support for other cancer survivors.

I love my life, I am so blessed to be alive. Warren my husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary this year, and we are blessed with a special family, and lots of wonderful, supportive friends. We now have a little Aussie grand-son, born prematurely this year in Sydney,Toby is progressing well.

Please, give a donation to support the goals of Amazon hearts, and the need to support younger women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The challenges they so bravely face are many.

Thank-you for your support.

Jan Bensemann, alias Marje.

Click Here to Donate Now!