NorthTec fielded a strong team in the recent Kerikeri half marathon (subs Saturday 21st November) including international athlete and NorthTec tutor Ady Ngawati. Ady was the third woman home and used the event as part of her preparation for the Xterra Off-Trail World Championships on 6 December.

Another member of the Kerikeri team was also turning heads and was greeted with rapturous applause when he crossed the finish line after walking for 4 hours and 13 minutes.

That's because finishing the race was a major milestone in a journey towards improved health and fitness that has seen NorthTec student Wiremu Te Kani shed 29kg over the past year.

As a result he no longer needs a gastric bypass operation to control his eating and forcibly reduce his weight. More importantly, he has a newfound sense of wellbeing.

The death of his cousin in his early 40s provided a catalyst for Wiremu to lose weight. "He was no bigger than me but he was a lot younger. I was motivated to do it, I knew I had to."

He also attended a seminar at Whangarei Hospital about gastric bypass surgery and watched a video featuring a woman who had had the procedure and had gone on to compete in half marathons. "She was inspirational for me." Before he could have an operation, however, he was told that he would have to lose 10kg.

"I thought, 'If I can lose 10kgs then why not lose another 10kgs on top of that'?"

Wiremu started walking regularly and changed his diet completely, following the 'Eat for Keeps' philosophy advocated by Leigh Elder.

In March he started training at the gym on the NorthTec campus under the watchful eye of gym instructor Ruth Anderson. "Seeing her face is inspirational for me. I couldn't have done it without her. It's been encouraging for both of us because she could see how much I've lost."

Wiremu now walks 6km-8km every day and trains at the NorthTec gym several times a week.

After successfully completing two 10km walks earlier this year, Wiremu decided that he was ready to tackle his own half-marathon challenge. "I had it in my head. I had a picture of what I was going to do. I decided that I was physically and mentally ready for it."

A particularly telling moment came just before the start of the Kerikeri event when he came across an unexpected fellow competitor - the doctor who had taken the seminar at Whangarei Hospital. "He said 'You've lost a lot of weight! Good on you for coming on the walk'. It was great to shake his hand."

Even though Wiremu was confident that he had done the necessary preparation, actually crossing the finish line was an amazing experience. "It was such a massive feeling to actually finish it. I was on a high!"

Other people around him have been incredibly supportive over the past year, from his fellow students who have opted for fruit rather than biscuits at their gatherings, to the moral support he's received from his whānau. Even strangers take the time to say, 'Good on you mate, keep walking!' when they see him on his daily walks. The student success team at the NorthTec Health Centre have also provided encouragement.

"I couldn't be happier than I am now. I feel a lot fitter. I can climb hills without puffing like I used to."

Wiremu has recently had a hip replacement which makes walking a lot less painful. Once he's been given the all clear that his new hip can take the strain and he's lost a little more weight, he's hoping to run the Kerikeri half marathon in 2010. "Ruth will help train me up so I can run it. She's an awesome trainer and I've asked her to push me harder next year."

Wiremu is a student mentor NorthTec but he's also a role model for everyone who has had the privilege of watching his sheer determination in action. He believes that if someone wants to lost weight then they can and he's happy if his example inspires others to get into regular exercise.

"Set whatever goals you want to achieve. Nothing is impossible."