Catharine all set to complete marathon for Little Miracles

Published 1 May 2024

Hamilton mum-of-five Catharine McKellar is all set to take on the challenge of the ‘Lap of the Lake’ at the 2024 Red Stag Rotorua Marathon in her quest to raise money for the Little Miracles Trust.

Catharine owes a huge debut of gratitude to Little Miracles as they provided a pillar of support and comfort after two of her children underwent periods in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Waikato Hospital.

Both boys thankfully came through their medical ordeal and now Catharine insists it would be nice to acknowledge their support by raising funds for the organisation, which offers family support during those challenging times when babies are in NICU.

“It is really important that people do not take these organisations for granted,” explains Catharine. “I’m the sort of person who likes to talk things through and Little Miracles offered so much emotional support. They are so important because otherwise you are thrown into the wide world without that level of support.”

Catharine’s eldest child, Isaac, was born prematurely at 29 weeks and he spent two months at NICU. Now aged 11, Isaac, who has cerebral palsy, thrived with the care and support he received in NICU but for mum it was an immensely challenging period.

“I was discharged at hospital every night at ten and I was back the next morning at seven o’clock,” she recalls. “Not to be able to take your baby home, or feed the baby was scary.

“However, once I week I would tap into Little Miracles who would offer that emotional support, even crying with them made me feel better.”

Her middle-born son, Avery, now aged seven also required NICU support after developing mysterious breathing problems at birth. He may have needed only five days of neonatal care, however, Catharine insists the period was just as traumatic.

“Everything had gone well during birth, so when the midwife said Avery had breathing problems it was scary. It was a real shock and having two little ones back at home made it even tougher.”

Once again Little Miracles played a key role in offering perspective and support and after recently embarking on a fitness regime to lose weight – which was included completing a triathlon and a 12km walk – and under the encouragement of her friend, Julia, “a bit of an endurance athlete” the 35-year-old plans to walk the full marathon on Saturday (4 May).

“I like a challenge, and feel I can walk 42km,” she says. “I enjoy hiking and I’m really excited to be able to complete this challenge.”

So what are the aims and expectations on the day?

“I just hope to get to the finish line and not be picked up by the minivan,” she says.”

If you would like to contribute to Catharine’s fundraising efforts go here