High school student going to great lengths to fundraise for the Cancer Society

Niamh Lee's 50km fundraising run for Cancer Society will include Te Mata Peak, left, and Mt Erin, right. Photo / Warren Buckland

The name Mary Lee will be forever etched in the minds and hearts of Niamh Lee and her family.

The pain of losing her 80-year-old grandmother - who died of cancer last October - is still raw at times for the 17-year-old who is committed to giving back to those affected by the disease.

She is now staring down the barrel of a 50km run - all in the name of fundraising for the Cancer Society.

On March 10, the Year 13 Havelock North High School student will compete in Triple Peaks; traversing Mt Erin, Mt Kahuranaki and Te Mata Peak - the same day as the Relay for Life.

"There are so many people out there with cancer and people have to watch their family and friends pass away and they can't do anything about it, and usually they shut off from the world," Ms Lee said.

"I know when my gran died I was really upset and I didn't want to do anything, but I know she will be watching down on me and doing this would make her feel very proud."

Ms Lee is a representative kayaker and will be competing in nationals this month.

In preparation, she has been running up to 30km a day, kayaking six days a week and going to the gym three times a week.

Despite the intense training, she does not consider herself to be a runner.

"I'm actually not a big runner, I do kayaking and that is my big sport, but I thought that cancer is a big burden on families so I would like to challenge myself."

In the first week, Ms Lee received $300 and hopes to raise as much as she can, saying "every little bit counts".

Ms Lee's grandmother is not the only family member or family friend that she knows of who has been diagnosed with cancer.

"It corrupts families and makes them upset and tears them apart."

For more information and to donate, visit https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/niamh-s-run-for-cancer