This is for you, Mum! - Honey's Sweet Wedding

The Sports Star Fulfils A Dying Wish

As Kiwi Ferns rugby league captain Honey Hireme walks through the chapel doors in a white wedding dress, there are two special women on her mind.

First is love of her life Rochelle Smiler, who she met playing club rugby in Hamilton seven years ago. The other is her mother Caryn Hunter, the lady known to conquer marathons around the world, and the reason today’s ceremony has been urgently pulled forward.

Sadly, Honey’s beloved 62-year old mum was diagnosed with an aggressive terminal stomach cancer seven weeks ago. Since then, Sky Sport commentator Honey has put everything on hold to care for Caryn who, sadly, has just days to live.

“Mum’s been holding on for the wedding,” says ex-Black Fern Honey, 38, after the small and relaxed ceremony in Waikato Hospital’s chapel. “Last week she deteriorated and I didn’t think she’d be here for the wedding. I left all the organising up to Rochelle and my family, who have done an amazing job in two weeks, and kept saying to get ready to cancel everything.”

But the afternoon runs smoothly, with Caryn seated in a wheelchair at the front, happily watching the last of her four children marry. A smile fills her face the entire time, tears falling as her only daughter says “I do” to Rochelle, 37.

“It took Mum a lot of energy to get down here to the chapel, but she’s got that determination,” tells Honey, mother of son Karasharn Hunter, 14. “When I saw her crying, I had to hold back tears too.”