C4 music host dies from breast cancer

In interview with Fairfax’s Catherine Woulfe in 2012, just after she had been told she had months to live, McAlpine’s sense of humour and attitude shone, “I know that a lot of my friends find it hard to talk to me about it. We have to wait until we’ve gotten drunk and sung along to FLeetwood Mac for three hours”.

The Center Point Fire District, along with the city of Center Point will be celebrating the launch of their Breast Cancer Awareness Month program Sunday, September 27, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.at Center Point Fire District Station One. Whatever she did she did it from the bottom of her heart – she didn’t want young women to have to go through what she went through.

In October that year, she headed the Breast Cancer Foundation’s Cancer Action Month campaign.

In October 2012 she told the New Zealand Herald she did not want to be remembered as the girl who died from cancer, but as a “good-time party girl who’s a highly irresponsible adult – with a heart of gold, though”.

“She connected amazingly strongly with young women”.

“It’s incredible, it’s such a weird and insane thing to have this incredibly good-looking man in my life regardless of the fact I will die before him and that it’s not going to be pretty”, she said.

Helena McAlpine’s warmth, openness and willingness to share the story of her life with breast cancer was appreciated by women of all ages.

“Yet Helena always responded to Foundation requests for help”. She shared her story through numerous magazine features, at speaking engagements, on national television through documentaries and in current affairs.

British-born Ms McAlpine moved to New Zealand at 22 after marrying a Kiwi she met in Europe.

Ms McAlpine, 38, was a former C4 presenter and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

“When Helena decided on something, she was unstoppable”, said Evangelia Henderson, chief executive at the NZBCF. She was determined to use her remaining time to help others, and she rose to every occasion with strength, grace and generosity.

“She did so much for the foundation”.

She fronted a volunteer recruitment campaign for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal which attracted 7,500 volunteer collectors. Most recently, she inspired people with her optimism and her commitment to living life to the fullest.

Ms McAlpine was married to Christopher Barton and had a daughter, Shannon.