Ultra for Lymphoma

By Poppy Brinsley

I am participating in the Scotland Ultra X Marathon in May, alongside my two lovely friends Nia and Sofia. Despite having never run much more than a half marathon before, I decided to take on the challenge of the additional 29kms when the Black Friday sale for the race popped up last year. The 50km race along Loch Ness (yes, I'll keep an eye out for the monster!) is now only 6 weeks away, and I would love your help to raise some money for a cause close to my heart.

Last year, my Dad was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system. Although we were lucky that the diagnosis was early and no treatment is required at the moment, Dad has to now live with this disease. He is doing all he can to live healthily and fully, and managing his cancer is now a big part of his life. 

Many of us will know of someone affected by cancer, and the research that the team at the Malaghan Institute is undertaking is changing lives. The groundbreaking immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy treatments have the potential to make a real difference.

Any donation, however small, will contribute greatly to the cutting edge research the Institute is undertaking. 

As part of this fundraiser, and given I am now living in the UK, I have also decided to cut and donate 30cm+ of my hair to the Little Princess Trust. Those of you who know me will know I have always had long hair, excluding a stint in the local Queenstown production of Oliver in 2009 (much to Mum’s horror!). I consider this a big part of my identity, but know that the wig made will go to someone that needs it more than I do. I’m very happy to share my ginger locks…


Thank you so much for your support! 


Celebrating my fundraising achievements to support life-saving research

Champion! You have started fundraising to support life-saving research.

Looking great, well done for updating your profile picture.

Well done for sharing your page and kickstarting your fundraiser.

Congratulations with reaching your first 5 donations!

Congratulations you're halfway to your target.

Awesome you've reached your fundraising goal!

My Updates

Hair donation done!

Tuesday 30th Apr
Last week I donated 14 inches of my locks to The Little Princess Trust 💖 they have confirmed today that the two pony tails have been delivered and will now be made into their beautiful wigs.

THREE weeks to go!!

Sunday 14th Apr
The big run is three weeks today... and hair chop less than 2 weeks!! I'm feeling nervous but exited to get it done after months of training, and all the more motivated to give it my all after the enormous amount of support received. I finished the Paris marathon last weekend as part of my training programme (terrifying to think of that as 'training') so now into the final few long runs before we head up to Scotland in May. Thank you again to everyone who has donated, we are so grateful.

THANK YOU!!!

Friday 29th Mar
I have been so blown away by the donations and kind messages of support so far, both for me and the family. Thank you for your generosity - to those who have already donated. We hit the initial goal of $3k in the first 24 hours (!!!) so now setting the bar higher. 

Keep the donations coming ❤️

Thank you to my Sponsors

$1.02k

Caroline

❤️

$1,000

Black Zqn

Good on you Poppy, all the best! From the team at Black!

$520

Gj

$520

Andrew & Pip Taylor

Good for you

$520

A&c

So proud to call you our daughter Pop. Love you more than you’ll ever know xxx🙏❤️🤛

$520

Jc

💪🏽👊❤️

$262.50

Jimmy Michael Allen

Great cause go poppy

$262.50

Ralph

Give it heaps Poppy

$262.50

Clayton Perry

Awesome race, awesome cause. Go hard!! Clayton and Emma

$262.50

Mike Walker

Life is short, smash it.

$262.50

Greg Hay

Run Poppy Run Such a worthy cause x

$262.50

Robert Ffiske

Go Pop

$262.50

Kerry Trevella-hall

Dear Poppy You go for it gorgeous girl. I’m so pleased to be able to support you in this endeavour so dear to all our hearts … just as you are 💖🌸🥰

$262.50

Eric Frerer

Go Poppy!!

$262.50

James Valentine

Go well superstar

$250

Amit Malhotra

Well done for raising awareness and donations for such an amazing good cause.

$210

Davies Family

Run like the wind Pops 🏃🏼‍♀️ great cause, we are all proud of you! ❤️🫶🏼 love Bid, Teabag, Ed, Polly & Charlie boy 💕🏃🏼‍♀️❤️

$200

The Davies’

Wishing you all the best for your incredible run Poppy. You are raising money for such good causes. Looking forward to seeing your new look. Pob lwc The Davies’

$157.50

Em Tonkin

Poppy - hugely inspirational in your dedication to training and also cutting off your gorgeous auburn locks for such a worthwhile cause. Good luck for the run! X

$157.50

Stefano

$150

Winston Brinsley

Go Pops and go Padre!!❤️

$113.40

Kate And Cam Mcleay

Legend Poppy. What an amazing challenge.

$108

Rach & Steve

Well done Poppy Will be cheering you on from NZ

$108

Macfarlane Family

What a great challenge Poppy, all the best Simon and Kristin XX

$105

Lauren Warwick

Go Poppy Did you know Graham Malaghan, Chairman of the Institute, has a strong generational connection to Queenstown. Awesome family.

$105

Jeremy Bell

$105

Whelan Family

A wonderful challenge to support these causes Poppy, you are inspiring! Sending love & best wishes from us all xx

$105

Hamish Midgley

Good on you Poppy. Great cause. Best of luck on the run. Hamish

$105

Maria And Paddy

Run like the wind Poppy!

$105

Sam Mcintyre

What an amazing thing to do Poppy. Look forward to hearing all about it soon. Lots of love, Sam, Paul, Henry, Sami, Amelia & Morgan xxx

$105

Yannie Tse

$105

Jonathan Wong

Go hard and good luck!

$105

Biggsy

Amazing effort Poppy

$105

Dl

$105

Dean

Ka pai Poppy Awesome cause and amazing event

$105

Ewen

$105

Stella Sc

All the best Poppy! What a champion & inspiration

$105

Emma Gould

Best of luck with this lovely poppy your family must be be very proud of you sending love Emma 💕

$105

Bb

Best wishes Poppy. Lots of love BB

$105

Al

$105

Anonymous

Love your work Pop❣Enjoy the adventure ❌

$105

Keith Algie

Good luck Poppy !!

$105

Tim Phillips

Good luck Poppy....enjoy the scenery!

$105

Ali Vidoni

heart emoji :)

$105

Chris Duffy

Go poppy

$105

The Roses 🌹

Awesome Poppy! Great cause and effort.

$105

Eric Stanley

$105

Joana Alves

Good Luck for next week- you're an inspiration!

$105

Catherine Jiang

Good luck!

$105

Carolyn Ng

You are an amazing person who inspires us all to be better

$105

Isabella Wright

Wishing you all the best for your Marathon run Poppy!!

$105

Clare B

$105

Jk &jan Kinnaird

You’ve got this Poppy-what a wonderful thing to do

$105

Tiny & Tania Campbell

Good luck Poppy, you have our support. Great cause !!

$105

Alex Gowing

Courageous Poppy

$105

Beau Rapley

Save a little for the final 100 metre kick poppy. Good on you for doing this for such an important cause.

$105

Julia X

Good luck Poppy x

$105

Amanda Barclay And John Barclay

Go poppy !!. You are such a shining star . Love your new haircut x

$105

Malcolm Price

Good Luck Poppy. A very worthy cause.

$105

Lissy Masfen

$105

Bb

A little top up to keep you moving Poppy. With you all the way. BB xxx

$105

Caroline

Good luck to you and your family, Poppy, and thank you for helping out others that way too!

$105

Will Harrington

💪🏼💪🏼 amazing effort, you'll smash it on Sunday!

$105

Paul And Tom

Good luck Poppy, amazing effort xx

$105

Potter Polk

Thank you for your effots for a good cause.

$105

Liam Malone

Good on ya Poppy!

$105

Stretch Rowlands

Great effort Poppy 💪

$105

Jack & Sal

Great stuff, go well Jack &Sal

$105

Bridget Mee

Enjoy the challenge! Fantastic

$105

Sally Stone

Go Pops well done 💃💃💃🥰 love the Stones

$105

Anonymous

$105

Sean Henaghan

Awesome Poppy!!

$105

Dale Zimmerman/gough

Well done and all the best and much Love to your parents ❤️❤️

$105

Isaac & Izzy Norton

Such an amazing cause, we know you’ll smash it! Love your work pops ❤️

$105

Lisa & Steve

What a champ Poppy! Get you locks cut before the ultra - then you’ll fly along! 🤗 Love to you all xx

$105

Ann & Guy

Well done Poppy - All the best for your training and the big one! Enjoy it ❤️

$105

Ferg

Good work Poppy!

$105

Tracey Gieck

Beautiful you - inside and out xx

$105

Kerry Barris Brown

Good for you Pops… behind you all the way ❤️

$105

Anonymous

$105

Tiff & Pete

Ultra proud of you Poppy x all our love to you and family x

$105

Helen

Love you Pops fabulous challenge -hope you see Nessie, your Mum missed him when we were there as she was looking the wrong way 😆😆❤️❤️

$105

The Leydon Lot

Amazing Poppy, cheering for you from the sidelines back home. Good luck xx

$105

Chris Cochrane

Go girl, let’s kick cancer’s arse. So very proud of your efforts !

$100

Nicholas

Good luck Poppy, Nia and Sophie - hope the weather is kind to you as it is a beautiful area.

$100

Emma Broughton

$100

Katie Mattu

An amazing cause Poppy - good luck! x

$75

Rachel Howells

Good luck Poppy. Lots of love the Howells’. Xx

$73.50

The Lamymans

Well done Poppy, such a great cause. Every blister will be worth it! Love The Lamymans x

$63

Patricia Jones

Wishing you all the best, love Aunty Pat

$52.50

Grace Meyer

Smash it ❤️

$52.50

Henry Matthews

$52.50

Monique

Good on you Poppy. You are an inspiration 🏃🏽‍♀️💖

$52.50

Ella

Incredible! Go pops xxx

$52.50

Andy Jack

Fantastic cause & good luck!

$52.50

Sarah Andersen

Good Luck Poppy!

$52.50

Steve Ruffles

Good luck with the run. Great cause.

$52.50

Maria Trinh

Go Poppy! Good luck for the run

$52.50

Sean Mccann

Good luck Poppy, a really fantastic effort for a great cause!

$52.50

Nancy Wang

Power on Poppy!! Sending you all my love and support :D

$52.50

Amanda Hunter

Go Poppy! A cause close to my heart too.

$52.50

Tom Laffey

Best of luck!

$52.50

Taryn Miles-polit

$52.50

Julia Murphy

$52.50

Sarah Ho

So inspiring! Good luck with the run!

$52.50

Matt

Good luck Poppy, and well done on your fundraising efforts!

$52.50

Brian

Best of luck Poppy!

$52.50

Olivia Mcleod

You're a superstar Pops and incredibly dedicated!! Good luck for next weekend and can't wait to see you rock the bob!! Love Liv McLeod xxx

$52.50

Alistair Stoddart

Good luck!

$52.50

Amelia James

$52.50

Elliot

$52.50

Eve Hewitt

Go Pops!!! Xx

$52.50

Ahlem

You rock Poppy!

$52.50

Dan Turini

Well done Poppy !

$52.50

Andrew Mclellan

$52.50

Anne Dewar

Inspirational Poppy!

$52.50

Cameron Cresswell

Fantastic commitment! Good luck with the whole experience.

$52.50

Bron Corbet

$52.50

Anonymous

$52.50

Amy Bristow

Go and Smash it Poppy ❤️❤️

$52.50

Delwyn Hosie

Go Poppy

$52.50

Shane Wairau

$52.50

Johanna-may Manks

Go Poppy - such a fabulous cause, your Dad will be proud. xx

$52.50

Judy Ramsay

Amazing woman Poppy - all the best with the ultra run and raising money for a good cause ❤️

$52.50

Su Tan

Go Poppy!

$52.50

Janine Askham

Fantastic effort Poppy. So proud of you. Xx

$52.50

Andrew Spencer

$52.50

Lydia

So proud of you pops! You are such an incredible soul and we love you and your beautiful fam forever! YOU RUN GIRL xoxoxox From the Foleys xo

$52.50

Kate G

Go Poppy!

$52.50

Tracy Cameron - Ican

Big Love to you all ❤️

$52.50

Fi,mike,molly And Jemima

So proud of you Pop xxx

$52.50

Ruth Collins

Well done Poppy, good luck, a very special thing to do.

$52.50

Harry Allen

$52.50

Harriet Burdon

Good Luck Pops!! 🏃🏽‍♀️🩵☀️xxx

$50

Darren Gilhooly

Good luck!

$50

Iris

Way to go Poppy!

$50

Nia Modley

Good luck angel you’re going to absolutely smash it and can’t wait to cheer you on from the side lines xxdd

$50

Gary Brady

$50

Milo Houben

$50

Maddie Albon

Well done Poppy!!! You’ll smash it superstar xxx

$42

Adrian Mather

Best of luck Poppy - love what you’re doing

$42

Mac

$42

Ebony Ferraro

Good luck with the run!

$40

Ashley Brown

Good luck Poppy!

$31.50

Madison Merton

Proud of you always! Love you xx

$30

Pieter W

Constantly doing incredible things, proud as always xx

$30

Ben Hall

$30

Elise Grace

♥️♥️

$30

Michael Knott

Great stuff Poppy, good luck for each and every of those 50km!

$26.25

Jack Conner

$26.25

Anonymous

Love you and proud of you xx

$26.25

Bex Baddeley

🤍🤍

$26.25

Angus Tylee

Go poppy!!

$26.25

Lauren Bennett

Best of luck with the ultra pops!! ❤️

$26.25

Megan P

Go Poppy!! xx

$26.25

David Cooke

$26.25

Connor Cleghorn

Love your Work Poppy, all the best!

$26.25

Stuart Adshead

$26.25

Emma Ley

Well done Poppy - best of luck in Scotland and can’t wait to see the new ‘do!

$26.25

Perry Brill

$26.25

Rachel Davies

Woo go Poppy!!!

$26.25

Anna Pan

$26.25

Anna Pan

Amazing effort!!

$26.25

Alicia Madeley

Go smash it Queen 👸💪

$26.25

Kate Mcfarlane

Amazing work Poppy, good luck with the run and your new hair looks fab.

$26.25

David Tejcek

Good luck Poppy!

$26.25

Noa

Let's go Poppy! Proud of you #616

$26.25

Anonymous

$26.25

Will Orr

$26.25

Bridgette Midgley

So proud of you poppy! Xx

$26.25

Grace + Steve X

Love you Pops x

$26.25

Lulu

Go Pops!! Always in awe of you and everything you do to support the people you love ❤️❤️❤️

$26.25

Anna Mccarthy

$26.25

Elspeth And Joe Zemla

$26.25

Victoria

Gooooo pops! Your a legend 🤍

$26.25

Brylee

Amazing work Pops you got this running queen!! Sending love to your fam 💞

$26.25

Anonymous

$26.25

Sami Kokich

Get it girl 🔥

$26.25

Jody

Have a great run Poppy 🏃‍♀️

$26.25

Anonymous

$25

Katrina Santos Li

Amazing endeavour Poppy! Wishing you all the very best for the race!!!

$25

Toni Mcintosh

You looked beautiful with or without the long hair!!! Well done!

$25

Meaghan Richards

$21

Lizzie Carrington

$21

Kylie Mottl

Poppy! What an amazing person you are. Sending our absolute love and best wishes to you and your family.

$21

Nikyta Chesney

So proud of you popps xxx can’t wait to see the hair

$21

Kat Themans

Go Poppy!!

$21

Natalie Moorfield

Good luck with the run!

$21

Steve King

$21

Logan Anstiss

$21

Neesha Imeson

Unreal stuff Pops xxx

$21

Alfie

$21

Ciara

You’re a superstar!

$10.50

Anna

Go Pops!!!!

$10.50

Jallum

Go well!!! You’ll smash it 💪

$10.50

Daniel Harnett

$10.50

Annie Laver

Go girl 🫶🏻🏃‍♀️

$10.50

Cherry Bloomfield

Well done Poppy!!

$10.50

Flynn

$10.50

Nick Harris

$10.50

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$10

Nikki Arns

Good luck Pop xx

$10

Emma Stewart

Amazing Poppy! My heart goes out to you and your fam 🩷 such an incredible race to do xx

$10

Imogen Mcgregor

Thinking of your fam Poppy!! X

$5.25

Anonymous