This time last year Shanel Cornille was about to receive devastating news.
Just two days before Christmas 2009, Shanel was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
As an extremely fit and healthy athlete, the news came as a huge shock just six weeks after she had represented New Zealand at the long distance world champs in Perth.
"It was all quite surreal really going from thinking you’re so fit and healthy to being told you have cancer. It’s really unbelievable,” she says.
Following chemotherapy and radiation treatment Shanel has thankfully been given a clean bill of health.
"This year has been a tough one for me but i know that being so fit beforehand and having a positive attitude got me through my chemo and radiation treatment with minimal side effects.
"Cancer chose the wrong person and I have beaten it off with the biggest stick I could find.”
Still managing to get some exercise in during chemotherapy, Shanel resumed training after the effects of her treatment began to wear off.
It was still frustrating though, given that cancer had beaten her body around and her red and white blood cell count was still low.
She lost a lot of muscle bulk and found it would take time and hard work to build her endurance levels back up.
"Initially I got breathless really easily and that was really frustrating for a while - I couldn’t even go for a 10 minute jog without feeling like I was on top of Mt Everest.”
On the comeback trail, Shanel picked up some champion assistance from an old friend.
In 2008 Sam Warriner coached her in the build up to the Port of Tauranga half ironman. Two years later the pair reunited under Sam’s Sweat 7 initiative – in which she coaches and helps seven female triathletes achieve their goals.
So it seems only fitting that Shanel will once again be taking on the Port of Tauranga half on January 8th.
She feels like her fitness is finally coming to the party, and will be racing to raise money for the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (formerly Silver Ribbon Foundation).
Shanel will also line up for the Kinloch Contact Tri Series race before the ultimate challenge at the national champs in Wellington.
"This year feels like such a blur now and it is hard to imagine what I went through earlier in the year actually happened!
"I'm glad to put it all behind me and I think triathlon has definately helped me do that. I can’t wait for the half ironman so I can hopefully say to my doctors, my supporters and myself 'see I knew I’d get back there!'
"I’m proof that anyone can give it a shot no matter what they have been through."
