Kea steps up for CanTeen

Before he turned 13, Hastings teenager Kea Hadland was jealous of big brother Michael because he was doing "cool things" such as white-water rafting, and having fun with friends.

But Kea, now 18, was anything but jealous of what his big brother had endured when he was a small boy.

Michael was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer when he was 2 and had a battle on his hands for several years.

"He's 20 now and he's doing okay," Kea said.

It was Michael's involvement with CanTeen Hawke's Bay, part of the national network which supports young people living with cancer, which made Kea want to join, as siblings can, when he turned 13.

Apart from the fun and togetherness of CanTeen, Kea said it had also had a profound and positive effect on his big brother, who was currently at a CanTeen gathering in Christchurch.

"I wanted to be part of it and it is so cool," Kea said, adding he would be doing his bit tomorrow by taking on the 26km section of the Mitre 10 Mega Walk.

He said the support network within the organisation was invaluable.

"Because we have all been part of it [dealing with cancer]. We know how others feel. We understand."

A former committee vice-president, Kea has stepped down and is now part of the general support group.

While CanTeen assists young people between 13 and 24, many former members remain in contact and continue to work for the organisation after leaving.

Kea said the friendships made were impossible to break.

He will be among about a dozen CanTeen members who will be on the walkways tomorrow for an event which organisers say will raise much-needed funds to ensure the activity programmes can continue. Last year's event saw more than 1250 people take part and about $14,000 raised.