Cheryl Waaka

Cheryl Waaka is a former New Zealand rugby player, known for her contributions to the Black Ferns, the national women's rugby union team. Recently, she has been in the news as she bravely battles stage 4 bowel cancer, which has spread to her liver. Waaka advocates for earlier bowel cancer screening, arguing that had the screening age been lowered, her diagnosis might have been caught earlier, potentially saving her life. She has expressed her determination to fight her illness and raise awareness about the importance of early detection, while also reflecting on the emotional toll of her diagnosis on her family.