BCNA Kilimanjaro 2026

Kristal's Team are climbing Kilmanjaro starting 18th February 2026

The Back Story

In 2024 I was part of a group that climbed Everest Base Camp in support of a friend that had lost his brother to suicide. This trek put us to the ultimate mental and physical test, before I even knew I had breast cancer. On reflection now, it was honestly ‘the mountain before the mountain’ and I believe it prepared me for the biggest fight of my life, fighting breast cancer over the last year.

At the time of being diagnosed on 15 August 2024, I was living in New Zealand supporting my son Kaylan with his rugby career, he was finishing school at a rugby academy.  In 24 hours I had to make the decision to come home to Australia for treatment, and I did. 

Since October 2024 I have completed 15 rounds of chemotherapy, undergone mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and 15 radiation sessions. I lost my mum to cancer the day after I finished chemo. The last 12 months have been the most challenging of my life.  But I have stayed positive and prioritized being active and resting when I need to.

From a treatment perspective, I am now on Letrozole, monthly injections of Zoladex and have recently started Ribociclib. I have trained all the way through my journey, as I went into being quite fit and strong, so maintaining this lifestyle and prioritising my health and fitness is important.

This year I have made incredible connections through Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and have been a part of the AFL Pink Lady Match, the Berlei Pink Bra campaign and participating in the new Know Yourself, Feel Yourself campaign to encourage all women to ‘Know their Normal’, complete regular self checks and actively seek medical support if something is ‘not normal’.

This Years Big Adventure!

My next goal is to bring people together to be a part of a real once in a lifetime experience to trek Mount Kilimanjaro and experience an African safari in support of BCNA. The TREK4BCNA of Mount Kilimanjaro is an opportunity to connect with others wishing to challenge themselves, connect through shared experience and for me, importantly also raise more awareness about the First Nations experience with breast cancer. For me, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an opportunity to bring the invisible mountain of my breast cancer journey to visibility by climbing the largest free-standing mountain in the world.

I want to bring my First Nations lived experience to the forefront. And, I want to our team of trekkers to raise $50k for BCNA to help them deliver services, resources and support, and help to connect First Nations people who have, or have had breast cancer. 

So, let’s do this! We fly out on February 18, 2026 – please show your support!

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