American masters basketballer shoots sky high in quest to tick off bucket list
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- An American basketballer battling terminal cancer has managed to tick off a bucket-list wish while in Auckland competing in the World Masters Games 2017 – skydiving over Auckland from 16,500 feet.
Melanie Day was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer two years ago and told she had only two to five years to live.
Melanie, who is a mother of three young children, has created a bucket list and has been working her way through each item every chance she gets.
"With whatever time I have left, I want to live it to the fullest and try and inspire people where I can," she says.
"I am trying to encourage people to treat each day like it's their last. Don't wait for anything, don't delay doing things until you think it's a better time. Say yes to everything. Life is already short enough, and if you get sick time is so much more precious.
"I put skydiving on my bucket list as more of a joke than anything but when the opportunity came up while I was in Auckland I knew I had to do it. It was absolutely awesome, such an amazing experience."
Melanie shared the experience with some of her fellow US-based team-mates, some of whom are originally from New Zealand and have been acting as tour guides.
Along with skydiving the group has managed to squeeze in cycling, hiking, surfing and swimming in waterfalls in between their games.
"We've had an amazing time in Auckland, the whole experience so far has been really special. The Games themselves have been incredibly well organised, there's been helpful volunteers everywhere, and the entertainment zone on the waterfront has been great," says Melanie.
Auckland played host to 28,000 World Masters Games 2017 participants from around New Zealand and across the globe. The Games is the largest multi-sport event in the world, with almost double the number of athletes than the Olympics.
Along with basketball, there was competition in another 27 sports, which took place at 45 venues around Auckland and two in the Waikato, with the last of the competition finishing up on Sunday.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O'Riley says the World Masters Games 2017 spirit has been felt throughout the region over the past 10 days.
"We've had 16,000 international visitors from 100 different countries spending time in Auckland during their competition – and doing it all for their love of sport," he says.
"Auckland has been absolutely buzzing this week, there's been so many remarkable moments which have embodied the spirit of Games, both during and outside of the competitions.
"It's fantastic to hear inspiring stories like that of Melanie Day, who's been able to come to New Zealand for the first time and compete in the Games and tick off one of her bucket list wishes while she's here."
Link to video of Melanie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFMhOKHi49A
For more information contact:
ATEED Acting Media Manager, Anika Forsman, 0220261130
SOURCE ATEED
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