NicRussell
Cancer survivor, bereaved mama living with Parkinson’s and heart failure, charity founder, speaker, and general do-gooder. Now the author of F**king Life.
Follow for details of my journey and publishing updates! Kia ora, I'm Nic and I believe in accepting what I can’t change and the power of a good swear. At the beginning of 2005, everything looked rosy. I loved life and my gorgeous kiddies, Conor and Kenzie. Then mate pukupuku (cancer) took over. Kenzie was just 2 when she was diagnosed with paraspinal bone cancer which left her paralysed and fight
12/01/2024
It was a glorious morning for a swim at Cheltenham Beach this morning.
08/01/2024
Monday memories- hard to believe these were taken 23 years ago 💕 burling
14/12/2023
I'm really proud of the Kenzie's Gift team, our writer Jenny Zilmer, clinical psychologist Dr Freyja Mann, and the amazing families who shared their stories about coping with grief at Christmas. Kenzie died 18 years ago this Christmas and it's still tough. Thinking of all of you navigating this minefield of emotions, and maybe some of these shared experiences and advice from Dr Freyja helps you get through ❤️ https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/350130811/coping-christmas-when-youre-grieving
11/12/2023
The first time walking up Mt Vic in like….years…isn’t a new ❤️ a wonderful thing 😊
08/12/2023
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Aotearoa New Zealand 🧑🎄
30/11/2023
It’s coming up to Christmas and for many of us, we will be missing that special someone at the table.
It can be a very isolating and lonely time. People often avoid talking about loved ones who have died. If you want to silence a room, or get away from an overly talkative relative, mention the ‘D’ word.
But many of us find comfort in the shared stories and memories. That’s what Kenzie's Gift new campaign is about- sharing those funny, quirky, sometimes side-splitting stories about our loved ones. Check it out on how to share and donate to support grieving kiwi kids this Christmas. 💕
#INLAUGHINGMEMORY Sharing our fondest memories of loved ones lost, to help young Kiwis experiencing grief
25/11/2023
Perfect morning for a sunrise swim.
19/11/2023
The 50 th birthday adventures and celebrations with fabulous family and friends. The amazing team at made it another epic one to remember. Thanks all for the memory.
11/11/2023
What a fantastic weekend spent in the company of this fabulous human, . Friends are the bestest 👯♀️
28/09/2023
What the difference a year makes. From a life saving heart transplant to indulging in a heart cake (I know, I know…not heart healthy but just this once I promise 😉). It’s great to be alive and in the company of some very special friends.
I can’t let the day pass without heartfelt thoughts to my donors family. It’s a tough day among many for them. In loving memory ❤️
27/09/2023
Lovely spring morning on Cheltenham beach…but will duly be avoiding any swimming thanks to the main sewer line collapse in Auckland now delivering our collective no 1’s,2’s and everything else we flush down the loo into the harbour 😵🤢
22/09/2023
The Devonport of two halves today- guess which one we swam in 😉🏊🏻♀️
17/09/2023
It’s nearly a year since my heart transplant and just incase you might be interested, this short TED animation gives a good overview of the op and managing your new heart:
How does heart transplant surgery work? - Roni Shanoada Dig into the science of how heart transplants happen, how donors are matched and find out how this complex surgery saves lives.--Your heart beats more than 1...
14/09/2023
What a difference a day in the life of swimmers make 🏊🏻♀️☀️🌧️
14/09/2023
What a difference a day in the life of swimmers make 🏊🏻♀️🌧️☀️
Hi Everyone, I was looking through some of Kenzie's things today and came across this poem that was sent to me after she died, 'A Child of Mine' by Edgar Albert Guest. It brought me a lot of comfort at the time. I'd love to hear from you about which poems or words helped you get through those tough times?
Throwback Thursday to our first winter swim challenge and the inspiration behind it ❤️
☀️ Ever wonder what juggling a heart transplant AND Parki before your first cup of coffee is like? 🤔💊 Spoiler alert: it's like being a DJ... but for meds. 😂🎧 Join me for a lighthearted peek into my morning routine, and remember, laughter truly is the best medicine! (Well, second best... after the actual medicine! 😉) 💓"
04/09/2023
Shameless self promotion ahead- I’m honoured to be speaking alongside Grainne Moss at this fabulous event for the Tara Trust. If you fancy a good night, come join us on Friday 13th (yes…I know 😉) October at the Auckland Irish Society. Details in comments of original post x
Mná na hÉireann in collaboration with The Tara Trust are hosting a very special evening with guest speakers Nic Russell & Gráinne Moss on Friday 13th October at Auckland Irish Club. Funds raised will be donated to The Tara Trust. Please see comments for more information.
30/08/2023
The last day of winter and the winter swim challenge 🫣 It’s been a blast, new friendships made and memories created. We still have one last dip to make under the super moon tonight to finish off (but we will still be swimming even though the challenge for Kenzie's Gift is over for 2023. More updates to come.
Emma and meself enjoying the foggy serenity this morning 🌁
23/08/2023
🌊❄️Early risers, big surprises ☀️
It was off to Narrow Neck this morning for my 70th swim of the winter swim challenge.
Clear and Baltic 🥶
Fundraising total is nearly $12k with 7 days to go….can we make it to $20k so 20 young kiwi kids living with grief can get the mental health support they need?
Come join us. Sign up at link in bio 💙
Move forward, not move on. If someone you love has died, you never forget the feeling. Kenzie’s Gift was born out of loss and this is what grief has taught me (Nic, Kenzie’s mama).
18/08/2023
Contemplation 💙
13/08/2023
Our morning swimming companion 😳
12/08/2023
Fab start to the weekend dipping with amazing friends and the Cheltenham Little Black Book dippers for Kenzie's Gift. If you’ve lost someone, you never forget the feeling. Kenzie’s Gift is born out of loss. Every swim, every donation given to the winter swim challenge helps support the mental health of Kiwi Kids living with grief or serious illness. Let’s do this for them.
To sign up or donate: 👇🏼https://winter-swim-challenge-2023.raisely.com/
30/07/2023
Great dipping with the Cheltenham Little Black Books Winter Swim Challenge team today. After a week of battling a reactivation of the CMV virus when the transplant team took me off antivirals it was fab to be in the water again. Hopefully starting back on meds the viral load is coming down- bloods in the morning will hopefully bring good news.
So a huge big thanks to all the swimmers for continuing to champion and fundraise for our kiwi kids affected by serious illness or grief.
Your support means the world to all
19/07/2023
My body is rocking some epic scars- my chest looks like a 10 yrs old attempt at a patchwork quilt 😬 Between boobie reconstructions after breast cancer to my heart transplant zipper, it’s a canvas to every life saving op I’ve had.
I’m rather proud, even though I’m not likely to be rocking the cover of Vogue anytime soon 😉
27/05/2022
Last night, I was at the 10x10 Philanthropy Auckland event! 😍
A huge big thanks to the amazing 10x10 team, their supporters and sponsors for an amazing evening. To all the donors on the night, a huge heartfelt thanks - your generosity will go towards achieving our vision: to ensure no young Kiwi faces serious illness or grief alone.
It was an honour and privilege to be alongside The Kindness Institute and Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand and to meet such inspiring, passionate and compassionate people doing incredible mahi.
Tēnā koutou / thank you - what a way to end the week! 💜
22/05/2022
Solitude 🏊🏻♀️
18/05/2022
Another stunner of a day for an early morning swim. Still a balmy 18.3 in the water and winters only two weeks away…tropical 🏊🏻♀️☀️
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