Rotorua woman Kath Cross, 52, was used to mountain biking through Whakarewarewa Forest for hours on end until her rheumatoid arthritis began causing issues in her lungs. Photo: Supplied / Kath Cross
This time last year Kath Cross was in Auckland Hospital recovering from a double lung transplant. And in less than two weeks she will be lakeside at Taupo competing in the 30 kilometre Huka Teaser event.
The 52 year old Rotorua woman is a keen mountain biker - prior to her surgery she would spend hours in the Redwoods forests.
So when she started feeling out of breath on rides with her husband and then just walking to her letterbox, she knew something was wrong.
The diagnosis was unclear at first but she was eventually diagnosed with Obliterative bronchiolitis.
An irreversible scarring that occurs in the small airways of the lungs.
It is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. But now with a donor's set of lungs, she is finally able to get back on her bike, and is raising awareness and funds in the process.
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