Blue Brothers

Blue Brothers Blue Brothers Movement is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation set up with the intention of offering wellbeing and camaraderie to men living with cancer.

Offering support groups in Christchurch, Rangiora & Kaikoura, our goal is to create an environment that promotes connection, exercise and a trusted space for people to come together and share their experience - or simply have a cuppa, get some exercise in, and have a chat. For more information, contact David Cattermole:
☎: 027 202 7525
📧: [email protected]
Facebook and Instagram:

02/09/2026

BLUE BROTHERS CHALLENGE - EL CAMINO

One last update from Gill in video form!

Thanks again to everyone involved. Please consider donating with the below details:

Account name: Blue Brothers
Account number: 38-9023-0594922-00
Ref: ElCamino

BLUE BROTHERS CHALLENGE El Camino day 8/9 update from Gill:“Day 8 - 20.1kmA Guarda to Pedornes, OiaDay 9 - 17.3kmPedorne...
02/09/2026

BLUE BROTHERS CHALLENGE
El Camino day 8/9 update from Gill:

“Day 8 - 20.1km
A Guarda to Pedornes, Oia

Day 9 - 17.3km
Pedornes, Oia to Baiona

I must say - I have totally enjoyed the last two days of this challenge. The weather has been fine and while some of the track moved inland from the coast, I made a special effort to keep the coastline within my view. Even if it meant walking extra kms 🥾🥾

The highlight was today when I walked into Baiona, found an amazing castle on the hill and a picturesque bay to swim.

It’s hard to believe that my original plan was to walk 130kms over 9 days (7 walking, 2 rest days) however with my hopping between the central and coastal trials it has added an extra 20km to the adventure.

Total walked: 153km’s
No Ubers or Lime Scooters needed - thankfully 🛴

While the challenge and walking part of my El Camino may be over, the journey isn’t complete just yet.
Watch this space 👀”

Should you like to make a donation to the Blue Brothers Charitable Trust:
The bank details are:
Account name: Blue Brothers
Account number: 38-9023-0594922-00
Ref: ElCamino

Remembering our Lost Brothers. Walking for those we miss 💙💙

BLUE BROTHERS CHALLENGE - El Camino walk. Day 5/6/7 update from Gill:“Day 5 - 20.3kmViana do Castelo to Vila Praia de An...
30/08/2026

BLUE BROTHERS CHALLENGE - El Camino walk.
Day 5/6/7 update from Gill:

“Day 5 - 20.3km
Viana do Castelo to Vila Praia de Ancora

It seems that no matter which country you’re in, the weather forecast is always wrong! 😂

As you know - Day 4 was my planned rest day, where rain was forecast for the day. Of course, it turned out to be perfectly fine. Then came Day 5… and the rain arrived in earnest! 🌧️

Thinking the coastal trail might be a bit challenging in strong winds and soggy sand, I decided to take the inland route instead. In hindsight, the coastal trail may actually have been the better option. The inland route meant extra climbing, and once the trail became saturated, it effectively turned into a series of running streams.

Lesson learned: never trust the weather forecast… and sometimes the route that looks harder on paper might actually be the easier option! 🤔🥾

A good night’s sleep was had in Vila Praia de Ancora

Day 6 - 16.8km
Vila Praia de Ancora to A Grauda

This leg was particularly exciting and will remain in the memory banks for some time - especially when crossing the border from Portugal into Spain! 🇵🇹🇪🇸

It was a relatively easy walk from Vila Praia de Ancora to Caminha - although, yes, it rained again for a couple of hours! 🌧️ From Caminha, it was a matter of taking a water taxi to cross the Minho River to Camposancos - Spain 🚤
From there, it was a scenic walk around the bottom of the bay, with some great views along the way. Thankfully, the bay was nice and calm, which gave me the opportunity to swim 🏊‍♀️

Another day completed on the trail, and plenty more memories made! 🥾😊

Total walked so far - 115.7km” continued in comments…

Blue Brothers Challenge - El Camino Walk💙💙Day 3&4 update from Gill:“Day 3 - 27km The trail between Esposende to Viana do...
28/08/2026

Blue Brothers Challenge - El Camino Walk💙💙
Day 3&4 update from Gill:

“Day 3 - 27km
The trail between Esposende to Viana do Castelo was a little different from the boardwalks and cobbled pathways which we’ve walked over in the past two days. The track crossed over onto the central pathway for a while (in bush land) Then, due to my stubbornness and preference for staying close to the coast, we ended up walking on sand for a stretch. This adding unnecessary kilometres to the trail 🫣

Day 4 - Rest day
Viana do Castelo is vibrant town, with a historic centre, plenty of time to view the shops and relax a little 🤗

Thank you again to the wonderful people who have made donations to Blue Brothers. Every dollar goes towards supporting men living with cancer. Your kindness truly does make a difference 💙”

Donation information:
Account name: Blue Brothers
Account number: 38-9023-0594922-00

Remembering our Lost Brothers. Walking for those we miss 💙💙

Blue Brothers Challenge – El Camino Walk 💙💙Day 1 & 2 update from Gill:“Thank goodness for anti-inflammatories, friendly ...
25/08/2026

Blue Brothers Challenge – El Camino Walk 💙💙
Day 1 & 2 update from Gill:

“Thank goodness for anti-inflammatories, friendly Kiwi’s and ponchos!😂

I’m pleased to report that the first two days of my El Camino adventure has gone pretty well.

Day 1: A massive 31.5 km - pushing through the pain barrier!
Day 2: Another 20.3 km

Let’s just say the anti-inflammatories have definitely earned their place in the backpack!

It’s also amazing how some things are meant to be - the day before leaving Porto I bumped into fellow Kiwi from Te Puke, Nadia Wharepapa, who has become a great walking buddy over the past two days. Stories have been shared along the way, including the best remedies for blisters.

Heatwave?! 🌧️ I think the European heatwave is over - it’s hard to believe that 2 weeks ago we were playing hockey in 30 plus degree heat, to having to wearing rain jackets and ponchos on day two of this walk. Unfortunately, rain is forecasted for the next few days as well.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has made a donation to Blue Brothers, and to those who have sent messages of support and encouragement. 💙💙

It really does mean a lot knowing you’ve got my back. 👍

Chat again soon....”

Remembering our Lost Brothers. Walking for those we miss 💙💙

24/08/2026

Blue Brothers Challenge – Remembering Our Lost Brothers 💙

A message from Gill:

“Today I’m starting my 130km El Camino walk along the Portugal coast - with a broken body and a dodgy Achilles!

This is very different from last year, when Mitch Hollands and I punished ourselves by walking 120km of the Sydney Coastal Pathway in just 4½ days.

This time, I’m sincerely hoping I don’t have to resort to an Uber or Lime scooter at any stage!

This walk is incredibly special to me as it’s one David and I planned to do twice, but sadly never got to do together. So, I’m finally ticking this box for both of us.

For this walk - I’m taking on the Blue Brothers Challenge to remember the Lost Brothers who are no longer with us, and to raise funds for our Charitable Trust 💙💙💙💙

I’d love for you to follow my journey through the Blue Brothers social pages, cheer me on, and judge me on my efforts.

Thank you to everyone who backs me with this challenge. Your support means a lot 💙 and every donation, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated.”

All donations go directly to Blue Brothers Charitable Trust - a foundation helping men with cancer stay fit and connected!

Account name: Blue Brothers
Account number: 38-9023-0594922-00

Remembering our lost brothers. Walking for those we miss 💙💙

23/08/2026

Daffodil day is this Friday 28th August across the country!

With 1 in 3 Kiwis diagnosed with cancer, this fundraiser for the Cancer Society is so so important!

Cancer Society NZ supports people diagnosed, whether directly or through Trusts such as ours. We couldn’t do what we do for our men without them!

Give a little back this year by donating in person at their collection stations (where we will be), or online!

Find us at:
✨Pak’n’Save Rolleston
✨New World St Martin’s Chch
✨K-mart Ashburton
✨Pak’n’Save Rangiora
✨Across the Marlborough region

Meet our trainers series 💙Next up is our wonderful trainer - Colleen . “Hello, I’m Colleen!Having cared for both my pare...
16/07/2026

Meet our trainers series 💙

Next up is our wonderful trainer - Colleen .

“Hello, I’m Colleen!
Having cared for both my parents during their cancer battles, I truly understand what it means to need support during tough times.
I started my own fitness journey back in 2017 and even after two hip replacements, I’ve kept going strong! This personal experience sparked my passion to become a qualified personal trainer, and now I’m honored to bring that knowledge to our Blue Brothers sessions in Ashburton.
When we meet for exercise, I make sure everyone feels comfortable working at their own pace. I get that some days are better than others when you’re living with cancer. My style is practical and supportive - and I love to mix in a bit of humor because having a laugh together makes everything better!
But what I really look forward to is our cuppa and chat after the workout. This is where real connections happen. After seeing how important companionship is during illness, I believe this time to talk and share is just as valuable as the exercise itself.
I’m passionate about creating a space where you can build strength in your body while finding friendship and understanding. At Blue Brothers, we focus on living well through movement, laughter and good conversation.
“Believe in yourself—if you believe it, you can achieve it!”

Colleen takes our Blue Brothers 130pm Tuesday and Thursday Ashburton classes, and would love to see you there!

Send us a message for more info on these classes 💙

Personal Trainers

Meet our trainers series 💙Next up is our incredible top of the south trainer - Hannes Schoeman. “Although I originally s...
28/05/2026

Meet our trainers series 💙

Next up is our incredible top of the south trainer - Hannes Schoeman.

“Although I originally studied Sport Science, I identify as a Strength and Conditioning coach. I have worked with all ages and levels including Olympic level athletes.
For the last 9 years or so my focus has been injury prevention, pain free living and performance. This includes multiple other qualifications.
It has been a privilege working with cancer survivors over the last few years, and I admire all of them a lot. I’m honored to be a small part of the Blue Brothers organisation.
It’s my long-term goal to one day be a mentor and train other trainers around the world.
The Blue Brothers Movement in Marlborough is steadily growing—it’s fantastic to see our group gaining traction and support from the region. While we usually have exciting events and updates to share, this time we found ourselves struggling to put together a full article for the newsletter. However, there’s an important recognition we’d like to make.
A massive thank you goes out to Cancer Society Marlborough and especially to Dallace Lilley for their unwavering support. Their encouragement and involvement have been essential in helping the Blue Brothers Movement thrive in Marlborough, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions to our cause.”

Hannes takes our Blue Brothers 10am Tuesday Blenheim class, and would love to see you there!

Send us a message for more info on this class 💙

Happy 2nd birthday to our Mid-Canterbury brothers 💙This week was celebrated in style with cake and lots of cheers! A big...
03/05/2026

Happy 2nd birthday to our Mid-Canterbury brothers 💙

This week was celebrated in style with cake and lots of cheers!

A big thank you to our supporters, Cancer Society Mid-Canterbury, the Braided Rivers Trust in conjunction with the Lion Foundation, and Fit4Life - the home of Blue Brothers Mid-Canterbury - you guys rock!

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8022

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+64272027525

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