When Vaseva Seru was approached by a Nelson Weekly reporter last year and asked ‘If you could have anything for Christmas what would it be?’ Her answer was emphatically: ‘A bicycle, so I don’t have to drive to work anymore.’
Coming across that Street Talk answer, Bike Hub coordinator Rachael Gray knew she could help so she reached out to the Weekly. Bike Hub Nelson takes unwanted or broken bikes, fixes them up and redistributes them to people who need them.
A little digging from the Weekly team, discovered that Vaseva worked at Nelson’s Alliance meatworks, and a few calls later a meeting was arranged to present Vaseva with a surprise of a new bike.
Vaseva was almost moved to tears when she was summoned to the meeting room at her workplace of more than three years last week.
Plant manager Steve Baird says she is a hard working and loyal employee who is more than deserving of the gift.
When asked why she chose a bike over anything else, Vaseva began to share her health journey. “I have interest in keeping fit, after I had my chemo.”
Finding it difficult to walk long distances, she sometimes does laps around her dinner table at home in Stoke.
“I was thinking to myself, if I had a bike that would help a lot.” With her family all back home in Fiji, Vaseva relied on support from friends in the North Island during her cancer journey.
She says local medical staff provided her main support, along with her employer.
“I’m just surprised the amount of support they have given me. The nurses especially,” she says. “Back then I was closer to Motueka and the nurse that looked after me, she was so nice and cares for every little thing.
“They started from after the surgery up until my chemo she kept coming to see me, but also the workplace had been a major contribution to my healing.”
Vaseva finished chemotherapy in May 2024 and has been declared cancer free.
“The right people around me, and I just prayed for it and then God helped me.”
Rachael says many people come to Bike Hub while recovering from injuries or health setbacks.
Having worked with the hub through Stoke School, she knew the value of the service before stepping in as coordinator late last year.
“I didn’t realise how many people would get referred for medical reasons,” she says.
Rachael hopes Vaseva’s story will encourage others who may feel unsure about asking for help.
Vaseva’s new bike came fitted with a helmet, lights, a lock, pump and high vis vest to help her ride safely.
