Despite a very difficult month... I did it!!!

My 2026 So Far: Two Deaths in Two Months

Family and friends,

My aunt passed away on the 5th of May from aggressive metastasised breast cancer. I had spent only 1.5 months in New Zealand on my working holiday before returning to help my uncle care for her before she died.

I've been slow to log my km here, but I am walking wherever I can every day. Most days, I just don't have the energy to run. I may smile, but I am exhausted and grieving, weighted down by the bureaucracy of handling after-death arrangements in Hong Kong.

When I made this MyMarathon commitment, I thought I'd be joining run clubs in Christchurch and hiking through New Zealand. I never imagined I'd be flying home to spend those weeks with a loved one before she passed.

Thank you for understanding as I slowly catch up on my distance. After 8 years of working hard and saving money, 2026 was supposed to be my year of freedom and exploration. Instead, as we approach the midway point of the year, it is marked by grief and heartache.

I try to stay strong each day for my uncle. He's an old man, widowed without children, so I've stepped up.

I didn't realise this earlier, but I need all the support I can get. Please send words of encouragement my way. I feel heavy, my body and soul are weary, but I know being here for family is what's right. 

RIP Auntie. Uncle is in good hands.

In Spite of Change, Grief & Uncertainty

In Memory of Roy White: Respected School Leader, Mentor, Friend & Father

[Last Met in Person/Photographed: 6 January, 2023 after lunch in Windsor, UK]

Roy White (we used to call him Mr White) founded my secondary school, International College Hong Kong, but more significantly, he helped found the person that I am today.

From my time as his student to my current life at age 30, Roy (in his late 50s) was my mentor, my friend, and a source of endless wisdom. He had always believed in me, even before I knew how to believe in myself.

I am still processing his grief, I am still in shock, it feels like he is still here with us. I am sending all my love and condolences to his wife and daughter, whom I've always heard him speak of with so much love and fondness. Everybody who knew Roy would agree that he was the best man on earth with a heart of gold. He trusted every single student and saw potential in each of them. He saw mine.

To honour Roy's vision and spirit - he had always believed that everything & anything was possible - I’m running the equivalent of two marathons (84.4km) this May to raise funds for the Heart Foundation. I can only complete this distance between 1-30 May, but fundraising starts now.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in NZ, claiming a life every 90 minutes. I hope that through my distance and with your support, we can promote heart research and help save other families from such tragic loss.

I’d appreciate your donation by clicking on the link below. Let’s keep hearts beating, families and friends smiling, and dreams alive. This one's for you, Roy, Mr White.

With Love & Respect,
Queenie