Tiana's mum: 'Strength isn't about never being afraid'

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It might be almost year since the tragic passing of former Australian Opal Tiana Mangakahia to breast cancer but her spirit still lives stronger than ever.

Mangakahia, who played WNBL for the Australian Institute of Sport as well as the Townsville Fire and Sydney Flames, died on September 11 last year after a long and corageous battle with the illness stretching back to her college basketball days at Syracuse University.

Her passing devastated the Australian basketball community with players, coaches, officials and legends of the game - led by the likes of Lauren Jackson - coming together to pay tribute to the 30-year-old.

While the sadness of losing one of Australian basketball's most colourful characters will never pass, her family will be hosting a Tough4T Pink Walk in her hometown of Redlands, just east of Brisbane, to celebrate her memory 12 months on.

The event will also be to raise money to help women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer.

"We started the Tough4T pink walk because we wanted to keep Tiana’s spirit alive in a way that meant something," her mum, Cynthia, told basketball.com.au.

"Tiana was a basketball player, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a coach and someone who cared about other people. After everything Tiana went through with breast cancer, we saw firsthand how difficult it can be for young women and their families.

"When you’re going through cancer treatment, there are many things to worry about, and the financial pressure can be overwhelming on top of everything else. So, Tough4T was created in Tianas honour.  

"The walk gives people a chance to come together, remember T, celebrate her life and raise money to support young women under 40 who are going through breast cancer.

"Every step of the walk is about T and about helping other young women keep moving forward."

Mangakahia proved to be an inspiration to not only the basketball community but everyone who knew her, fighting bravely until the very end, even playing NBL1 North for her junior club the Southern Districts Spartans in the months before her death.

And it's that memory her family hoped could continue to inspire others going through similar struggles.

"We hope Tiana’s memory reminds people that strength isn’t about never being afraid or never having a hard day," Cynthia said.

"Strength is about continuing to put one foot in front of the other, even when life feels incredibly difficult. Tiana showed so much courage throughout her journey.

"She faced things that no young woman should have to face and yet she continued to find reasons to keep going. She loved basketball, she loved her family and friends, and she wanted to live her life.

"I hope young women who are going through breast cancer can look at Tiana’s story and feel that they’re not alone, and I hope the wider community understands that a cancer diagnosis can bring enormous emotional and financial pressure, especially when you’re young - and get behind Tough4T.

"That’s why Tough4T is so important. If we can help another young woman through a difficult time, if we can take away even a little bit of her financial stress, then Tiana’s legacy is doing something incredibly meaningful.

"Tiana was tough, she was courageous, she was loving, she was determined and she always had a way of making people feel like they mattered."

Her family and close friends have stuck together even more over the past year to support each other through their loss but Cynthia said they all still think about Tiana every day.

"We miss her more than words can say," she said.

"Our lives will never be the same and we miss our beautiful girl. There isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t think about Tiana.

"We miss watching her play and coach basketball, we miss her smile, her laugh, her crazy tick tocks with dad and other family members, her tricks that she would play on us, her music, her thoughts on Netflix shows, her thoughtful gift giving, her stylish ideas and clothes, her strong opinions on all topics that she wasn’t afraid to share, her podcasts, her love for life and her love towards her friends.

"We miss seeing what she was going to do next with her life.

"But we also feel incredibly proud of Tiana and what she accomplished in 30 years. She fought incredibly hard, she kept going when things were so difficult, and she continued to think about other people even when she was hurting."

The Tough4T Pink Walk is a pet-friendly event that will be approximately 5km and will include a barbecue as well as prizes for the best dressed person and dog.

Cynthia said they would love to see as many people join them to continue the incredible support they, as well as Tiana received in recent years.

"The support has been incredible, and at times it has been overwhelming, in the best possible way," she said.

"To see how many people still carry Tiana in their hearts means so much to our family. It’s not just her friends and family - it’s people from all different parts of the basketball community, people who played with her, coached her, competed against her, people from Australia and overseas, and people who may have only known her through basketball but were inspired by her story.

"Tiana’s basketball family has always been a huge part of her life and she loved her basketball family.

"So many clubs, associations and organisations where Tiana either played or had connections with have honoured her by acknowledging her throughout the season either by way of uniform designs or tributes of various kinds . The Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames held the annual Pink Hoops round in January created by Tiana.

"The Southern Districts Spartans and the North Sydney Bears, held Pink Hoops events during their NBL1 seasons.

"What makes it particularly special is that people aren’t just remembering the basketball player, they’re remembering Tiana the person - the girl who made people laugh, who cared about others, who was incredibly determined and who kept showing up and playing ball even when life was incredibly difficult.

"Knowing that people and the basketball community want to continue her legacy, is everything."

Participating in the Tough4T Pink Walk is $20 per person and $50 for a family.

To register or for more information, visit tough4t.com