'Bugger off, cancer': Black Caps wife's leukaemia treatment complete

Author: Doug Laing,
Publish Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2026, 8:51am

Sarah and Blair Tickner at the 13th Stag on Thursday. Photo / Doug Laing

After two years and five months fighting cancer, Sarah Tickner has finished her leukaemia treatment.

Now Tickner, a Hastings cafe owner and wife of Black Cap Blair Tickner, is ready for her next battle – helping others facing a similar fight.

“I encourage anyone to reach out if they need advice,” she said on Thursday, at the Mitre 10 Sport’s Park’s 13th Stag cafe she runs with Blair.

“There is value in the cancer community, and it’s all added value to my community,” she said.

On Thursday, the Tickners decided to thank friends and family who have supported her by giving away her version of Italian coffee and cocoa dessert tiramisu at the cafe.

“Sarah is officially done with leukaemia,” said the general invitation on the cafe’s social media page. “Bugger off, cancer.”

Tickner said she still has a job protecting herself against any relapse of the leukaemia.

It was first diagnosed in 2024, after arriving with 8-month-old daughter Florence in England for her husband’s county cricket season.

She underwent eight months of chemotherapy, and was home for Christmas.

By August last year she had been in remission for about 12 months.

Her latest blood tests have established she’s in the clear.

Sarah Tickner, with her own message for cancer, coming through a fight of almost two-and-a-half years since diagnosis in England.

A gym bunny, she can start ticking off some more goals, with Hyrox fitness racing in November, comprising eight 1km runs with functional exercise stops at fitness stations along the way.

But rule out a marathon.

“I don’t like long runs,” she said.

“I am pretty lucky - I had a pretty good diagnosis from the get-go,” she said.

She emphasises a big part of the fight has been attitude, research and eating the right nutrients.

Still requiring occasional checks – more monthly than daily, she said: “Food is medicine”.

Besides, she wants to be a strong mum.

Her husband Blair said he was stunned by the number of people facing the plight, and is now well aware of the battles they’ve all faced.

“Sarah’s been very diligent,” he said, as another customer appeared with well wishes at the cafe. “There have been hard days, but she’s always been positive.”

Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter, based in Napier. He has had more than four decades covering news events and issues in Hawke’s Bay.