It’s been a long journey to the start line of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast for Haley Wells, who survived two strokes in 2023 which nearly derailed her dreams.

Now, the 44-year-old policewoman from Auckland is preparing to take on the iconic multi-sport event next Friday as part of a tandem team with her workmate, Scott Foster.

This milestone marks an extraordinary comeback and a testament to Haley’s determined spirit.

Haley first set her sights on the Kathmandu Coast to Coast in 2023, steadily building her fitness by entering shorter multisport and running events to test her fitness.

However, her journey took an unexpected and devastating turn in April 2023 when she suffered a stroke at the age of 42.

When it happened I lost my vision and movement in my right side and couldn’t move my hand at all,” said Wells.

“They did an MRI and I had two clots on my brain so they told me I’d had a full stroke.”

During her recovery, doctors discovered a hole in Haley’s heart, which required surgery to repair.

While undergoing this procedure, Haley experienced a second stroke, intensifying the challenges she had to overcome.

“That threw me. I couldn’t stand up properly and was holding on to walls to walk. My brain was trying to recover and re-wire itself and then it got thrown to pieces again.”

Though none of her symptoms proved to be permanent, Wells spent a large part of the rest of 2023 recovering.

“In the end I just decided it wasn’t going to hold me back,” she said.

“I wanted to show my kids that whatever you go through, you can come through the other side and keep you’re dreams going.

So here I am - a week out and quietly freaking out!”

Wells said she was drawn to the sheer challenge of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

“I just thought if you’re going to go big, why not go as big as you can. For me Coast is as big as you can in New Zealand.”

“It was a pretty emotional day getting the email through that we had a place, so I guess it was meant to be and we’ve been working bloody hard since then.”