When Eastern Beach resident Amy McAuley began her goal of a daily swim in 2022, being diagnosed with breast cancer was the last thing on her mind.
McAuley, originally from Scotland, moved to New Zealand in 2013, and established a business called Powerhoop NZ which uses a weighed hula hoop for exercise purposes.
“It’s for people who ordinarily don’t love exercise because I used to be allergic to exercise,” she says.
For many years, McAuley suffered from depression, which led her down the dark path of alcohol dependence, an eating disorder and deep self-loathing.
She used her smile as a shield, which hid her pain and shame from the world.
But McAuley found a way out, in the form of a colourful hula hoop.
She published a book in 2020, documenting her journey from addiction and depression to self-love and fulfilment.
McAuley has now been a life coach for 17 years and runs wellness retreats as well as happiness courses when she isn’t power hooping.
“I’m very interested in how we can be happy for no reason rather than waiting for outside circumstances of life to dictate,” says McAuley.
“My passion really is helping people to be the healthiest and happiest version of themselves and that is why I do what I do,” she says.
Finding herself in a Covid lockdown rut at the end of 2021, McAuley took it upon herself to go for an ocean swim to try and boost morale.
Immediately it made her feel better, despite not enjoying cold water and having a fear of fish.
And thus began the 365 days of her swimming campaign, where she challenged herself to have a dip on every single day of 2022.
McAuley says that she finds creating habits for herself naturally quite easy because of what she has overcome and her experience in life coaching.
“It started off nice and easy in January because it was Summer and then as the winter came around I was questioning my decision for sure but powered through it,” says McAuley.
McAuley says the cold water has had extensive benefits on her health.
“There were days throughout the year that we went on trips, so I always made sure we were near water to carry on the tradition,” she says.
The vibrant and lively McAuley had her life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2022.
“It was so out of the blue because I do really take care of myself, but it’s one of those things that can happen to anybody,” she says.
Despite her diagnosis, McAuley continued her daily swim journey, whilst battling with chemotherapy.
“There’s been some days where honestly I thought I couldn’t do it, especially just after chemo when I was really weak, but I’ve had heaps of people join me on a daily basis,” says McAuley.
Now, McAuley has finished six rounds of chemotherapy over 18 weeks and will soon take on a double mastectomy surgery as well as radiation therapy.
“Chemo was really hard. If you imagine your worst hangover, that’s how I would describe it and I haven’t had a drink in over 12 years,” she says.
Despite everything that she has been through, McAuley remains positive and full of energy.
“There are definitely moments of feeling down, you wouldn’t be human without them, but I absolutely believe that everything is dictated by mindset.
“To get through something like this you must get your mind into that place of coming to terms with what has happened and then deal with it,” she says.
She has now had over 400 consecutive daily swims and aspires to reach 1000.
McAuley says that after her journey with breast cancer, she might consider adjusting her career to help people going through their own cancer journey and find joy in the moments.
McAuley and “Amy’s Army” also featured in the 2022 Howick Santa Parade, raising money for a worthy cause, the Pink Ribbon walk.
