HEATHER HAWKINS

Heather is a mother of two, an author, adventurer, ultra marathon runner, speaker, ovarian cancer survivor, patient advocate. But, this was not always the case…

The doctor’s words were clear. “Perhaps some exercise would be helpful in your cancer recovery…”

Good advice, for someone who didn’t exercise much at all - whose idea of having a swim was simply standing in the waves at the beach, or that a long walk was only a short stroll at the park…

In 2007 an ovarian cancer diagnosis, had turned Heather’s world upside down. Her normal, structured life, had been replaced with uncertainty and unknowns. She was facing extensive surgery, time away from work and family, and coming to terms with overwhelming medical stats - only 48% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia survive beyond 5 years.

But fortunately, due the skill of her surgeon, Heather’s cancer was successfully removed. She was given a second chance at life.

So back to that day, as the doctor’s words hung in the air, Heather made a promise to herself to become fitter (and little braver).

That ‘line in the sand’ moment, paired with the experience of surviving cancer, would again turn her world upside down - but this time, in a good way!

First off, Heather trained to become a volunteer Surf Lifesaver and actually swam out beyond the break zone. (She still regularly patrols at her local beach). Then in 2012 she signed up for a 4km fun run with her two teenage children. It was the furthest she’d ever run - taking her way beyond her comfort zone (straight into a new pair of sneakers) as well as revealing something more : a previously unknown love for long distance running.

4km quickly became 14km, which turned into a half marathon (21km), then a full marathon (42km). Heather soon discovered trail marathons, ultra marathons, and then extreme ones held in remote, challenging and breathtakingly beautiful environments. It’s been quite a journey from there.

Here are a few of her favourite races :

• The North Pole Marathon - 42kms on an ice floe at the geographic North Pole in -41c - female winner.

• The World Marathon Challenge - 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days (yes you read that correctly) It was a very long week - running 295kms in only 168 hours - with no time zone changes factored in - catching commercial flights, eating airline food, racing against the clock…

• The Volcano Marathon - 42kms at 4,400 metres altitude in the Atacama desert in Chile around smoking volcanoes.

• 2018 Australian 24hr Championships - female winnerrunning 171km

• The Marathon des Sables - 250km in 7 days in the Sahara Desert, carrying all her own food and sleeping gear in temperatures above 40c

• The Track Ultra - 520km in 10 days in Outback Australia - west of Alice Springs to Uluru - carrying her own food and gear.

Trekking and climbing are in the mix too, and Heather is all for sharing experiences with friends and family.

One of her favourite quotes is “It is our loved ones and our journeys together, not possessions, that give us the greatest joy and are our truest treasures in life…”

In 2016 Heather spent 5 months trekking 1700 km along the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal, with her two adult children and with a support team from World Expeditions. It was an incredible journey climbing technical mountain passes, living in the elements up at altitude, navigating rugged trails and visiting remote villages.

Everest Base Camp, The Larapinta Trail and Mt Kilimanjaro are favourite destinations too, and just recently Heather summited Cholo Peak (6097m) in Nepal.

Through it all Heather remains passionate about raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and with every race and speaking event that she does, she raises funds for cancer research and patient care services, in the hope it will help improve the survival and quality of life of other women diagnosed too.

And she’s come to realise that it can often be the low points in our lives that become our most significant turning points…

That sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction, an idea or a great piece of advice, that will set us on our way…

To rediscover our sense of adventure, To seek renewed purpose and hope, Even discover an unknown courage within…