In 2010, I was lacing up my runners, preparing to take on the Oxfam Trailwalker, a gruelling 100km trek across Sydney’s bushland. I’d trained for months with a team of four, driven by purpose and passion. But life, as it does, had other plans. That same year, my mum, Chris, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was just 66. The doctors gave her three years, at best.
From that moment, my mission changed. I walked every one of those 100 kilometres for her.
Soon after, we discovered Mum carried the BRCA2 gene, and so did I. That revelation cracked my world wide open. I became her fierce advocate and devoted carer. I researched every treatment option, cooked every nourishing meal, and stood by her side through every round of chemo. For eight years, she defied every expectation, facing her illness with grit and grace. She passed away at 74, but not without showing me what strength, love, and resilience really look like.
It was in those years that my path began to reveal itself.
I’d always been drawn to movement, a sporty school kid who thrived outdoors. Working in financial services gave me a platform, but running gave me freedom. I started with hot yoga to manage stress, then began running… 10Ks turned into half marathons, then full ones — five in total, including the Six-Foot Track and the Berlin Marathon. Through the charity CanToo, I raised over $10,000 for cancer research by running my first marathon. Those early mornings, those long runs, they became my self-care, my therapy, my breath.
But it was not just movement that held me together; it was nourishment.
While I was cooking for Mum during treatment, something clicked. I remembered the slow, generous cooking of my childhood. The way my Nonna would spend all week preparing Sunday lunch, handmade pasta, fresh herbs, and tomatoes still warm from the garden. Her kitchen was a sanctuary, and her cooking was a testament to her love. That Mediterranean way of life, fresh, simple, seasonal, shapes who I am. It still does.
I realised then that food is not just fuel. It’s medicine. And that became the heart of my philosophy.
So, I changed course. I studied for over a decade, becoming a qualified Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath. My work is rooted in science, but also in soul. It’s informed by my family’s story, by grief, by joy, by a deep belief in the body’s ability to heal when supported with the right tools.
Today, my clinic is built on that foundation. A space where evidence-based nutrition meets the warmth of Mediterranean tradition. I focus on gut health, hormones, mental well-being, and sustainable lifestyle change. Where fresh produce, herbal medicine, and personalised care come together to support your body, mind, and spirit.
This isn’t just a career, it’s my calling. And I’m honoured to walk beside you on your journey to wellness.
Con amore,
Leave a comment