You can tell instantly when you speak with her. Tauranga’s Harriet Steele does not like a fuss.

So when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2023 she didn’t like the thought of talking to family, friends and colleagues too much about it.

But she didn’t mind talking to the people at the Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga Trust – a charity dedicated to providing emotional and practical support to local people fighting breast cancer.

“It was good because someone was touching base with you – calling about once a week – and they’ve been through it and it’s the space they work in, so it means you could be honest about where you’re at without worrying that they were worrying about it,” said the 38-year-old police officer.

Give back

That’s why she’s going to walk 100km in 30 days during May. “I want to give back to the community who supported me and also raise awareness around breast cancer.”

Steele has opted to walk the Aotearoa 100km in 30 days from May 1-30 – which is the trust’s major fundraiser to support its work.

Everyone and anyone – kids, whānau, sports teams, walking groups, workplaces and even four-legged friends – are invited to clock 100km in 30 days. And you can do it your way – walk, run, cycle, skate, dance, etc – and get people to sponsor your events to raise funds for the trust.

Harriet Steele, in hospital receiving treatment for breast cancer. Photo / Supplied

When Steele found a lump in her breast she had just moved to Tauranga. “I didn’t know anybody [here yet] and so I didn’t have a support network around me. No family nearby; nothing.

“It was really unexpected; I have no family history [of breast cancer]. Nothing like that – and I didn’t know anyone who’d been through it, so I didn’t know what to expect.”

A few weeks after diagnosis she had a mastectomy, IVF, then chemotherapy through most of last year.

Steele was told about the trust from her surgeons “so I reached out to them and popped in one day to go and see them and they wrapped support around me and it was great. Katie from BCSST and her team are amazing.”

Leading cancer

According to the trust, breast cancer is the leading cancer in women in New Zealand, affecting 3300 women and more than 25 men annually, with one in nine women facing it in their lifetime.

Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga Trust covers the wider Western Bay of Plenty, providing support to more than 230 individuals each year. Last year their youngest client was 30, the oldest was 89; and they supported three males.

Steele appreciated being able to talk to the trust about what to expect, what was coming, and have support from people she didn’t have to worry about worrying – such as family and friends.

“You don’t want to put it all on your family or your partner because they’ve obviously going through it too. So they’ve been a massive support for me.”

Partner Roy Spacey with Harriet Steele, who underwent treatment throughout 2024. Photo / Supplied

Steele is still receiving treatment for breast cancer and estimates she’ll need to do so for the next five years.

“I’ve finished all my chemo[therapy] and surgeries. At the moment I have to have hormone treatment because I had to be put into medical menopause because my cancer is hormone-positive so my body is not allowed to have any circulating hormones.”

One day she was a relatively young woman, the next she was in menopause. “So I get to have all the fun things that come with menopause. My current treatment is monthly injections and daily medications.”

Worked her way through

Miraculously, Steele worked all the way through 2024 while receiving chemotherapy. “I’m not one to keep still and I like to have focus or distraction. And because I didn’t know anybody I wanted to work because it felt like it would help me get a bit of support network because I hadn’t been here long.”

She was shifted from frontline to the family harm team. “Everyone at work has been awesome and very supportive. I worked when I could all through chemo – part-time, then fulltime when I could manage it. When I wasn’t well, I took myself home. And I’ve been back in a fulltime capacity for quite a while now.”

You’re not alone

What is so great about having BCSST a phone call away? “I did have great support from my family [who live out of Tauranga] but I don’t like people fussing over me.

“I just kind of wanted to get on with it because often it’s family who do make you feel like there’s something wrong without realising they’re doing it.

“So I didn’t worry about how they [BCSST] were responding to how I was. A friendly voice and face giving you practical support – telling you the things you’re going through are normal and you’re not alone – it’s so great.”

Steele received support from the Breast Cancer Foundation, and enjoyed what BCSST offered too. This included a young women’s group for those under 40, exercise classes, plus arts, crafts and hobby-type activities. There’s also massage, counselling services and much more.

“It helps as you can hang around people going through the same thing. When I lost my hair and was bald you can be self-conscious but in that environment you don’t worry about it because most people there had been through it.”

To sign up or donate to Aotearoa 100K’s in 30 days, visit: www.100ksin30days.nz.