Kath Cross' inspirational ride
After a life-saving lung transplant, Kath Cross conquered a 30km mountain bike ride, celebrating her second chance at life and raising $3400 for respiratory health.
A year ago, Kath Cross was rationing every breath, wondering whether she would live long enough to see another birthday.
In late November, with a stranger’s lungs inside her chest, Kath crossed the finish line of a 30km mountain bike ride as part of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge – something she once considered impossible.
The 52-year-old says returning to a start line felt overwhelming in the best possible way.
“It’s been a long time since I have lined up for a race,” she says.
“I didn’t have a race strategy – it was all about enjoying the ride and finishing.”
The lead-up to the race didn’t go as planned. A chest infection in the week prior dropped her lung function to 64%.
“It was probably a bit harder than I thought on the lungs, but overall pretty good – lots of downhills so time to recover.”
Still, the simple act of riding – something she once struggled to do – felt like a victory in itself.
The finish line delivered its own mix of disbelief and humour.
“When I crossed the finish line, I thought ‘yay, I did it!’,” she says.
“But I did wonder why they didn’t call my name out – it was because they were busy calling out the oldest lady riding the length of the lake, which was actually my mum, so that was a bit of a laugh.”
There were some emotional moments along the way too.
Kath thought a lot about her friend, Jan, who passed away after getting her lung transplant.
For someone once told her time was running out, Kath says that reaching the finish line was far more than a physical achievement.
“This was about showing what’s possible,” she says.
“I’ve been given a new life, and I’m using it.”
Her efforts didn’t just carry her across the line – they helped raise $3400 for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ.