Kirsty Parsons, a 32-year-old woman from Taupō, Novel Zealand, will attempt to become the first New Zealand woman with cystic fibrosis to complete an Ironman triathlon on March 7, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.
Parsons will compete in the Ironman New Zealand event in Taupō, which consists of a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle, and a 42.2km run. Her participation marks a significant milestone, made possible by access to the drug Trikafta, which she began taking in 2018 whereas living in England through a drug trial with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Before Trikafta, Parsons’ life was severely impacted by cystic fibrosis, a condition that causes thick and sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. She experienced frequent hospitalizations, struggled with daily activities, and her lung function was reduced to 40-50%. “It was pretty uncomfortable, and my quality of life wasn’t great,” Parsons said, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
Trikafta treats the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, offering a significant improvement in quality of life for those who have access to it. Parsons described the impact of the drug as “like being picked up and put in a brand new shiny body where everything worked.” She continued to access Trikafta after returning to New Zealand in 2021, and gained public access when Pharmac, the government’s pharmaceutical management agency, began funding the drug for those aged six and up in April 2023. Last month, Pharmac announced provisional funding for children aged 2 to 5, according to a report in PressReader.
Parsons’ Ironman journey is as well a personal one, bringing her full circle to an event that inspired her as a child. Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand (CFNZ) was a sponsor of Ironman New Zealand when she was younger, and she remembers running down the finish chute alongside athlete Patrick Bristowe as a teenager. “Watching Ironman as a child was ‘quite an inspiration’,” she stated.
Currently, Parsons trains approximately 12 hours per week, including 16km of swimming, 640km of cycling, and 83km of running in the past month alone. As a local to Taupō, she benefits from being able to train directly on the race course.
Beyond the personal achievement, Parsons hopes to inspire others living with cystic fibrosis. “Completing it would prove I have all the capabilities of a normal healthy person and I’m not limited by CF,” she said. “It would be really cool to… motivate other young kids with CF to stay healthy, and that they can totally have these goals.”
Parsons is also fundraising for CFNZ, having already raised $6,695 of her initial $10,000 goal, and is considering increasing it to $20,000, according to her Givealittle page. She acknowledges the organization’s advocacy in securing funding for Trikafta and the support it provides to individuals and families affected by cystic fibrosis.
Simone Brown, executive lead at CFNZ, stated that Parsons’ endeavor demonstrates the strength and resilience of those living with cystic fibrosis and “shines a bright light on the potential life and future that our younger generations can look forward to and be inspired by.” CFNZ will be cheering Parsons on throughout the race.
Parsons’ brother, Duncan Parsons, will also be competing in the Ironman New Zealand race alongside her. Her father’s presence will be particularly meaningful, as her mother has passed away. “For Dad to see me do this would be a huge achievement for him and make him really proud,” Parsons said.
