Dying mum will party to the end

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

TIME IS PRECIOUS: Tina Gosnell receives a hug from her son Kegan Poananga-Gosnell, 15.

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Tina Gosnell has one last wish. It's for a tall, muscular, Maori guy who's not afraid of getting into a tight police uniform.

The terminally ill Hamilton mother-of-three, who has been given only days to live, and her friends are planning a final "girls' night out" for her and are asking for a male stripper to volunteer his services.

"I want one really great last party for my girls," the 40-year-old said.

Ms Gosnell, who has colon cancer, was sent home from Waikato Hospital last week after being told she had between six days and six weeks to live.

She's had a bad run of things over the last year. Along with an on-going battle with cancer, which she was diagnosed with four years ago, she's been robbed six times and had her car stolen.

Her computer was among other items stolen, robbing her of thousands of photos from the last few years.

She had been collecting the photos to create special DVDs for her family and friends.

Yet despite all her bad fortune, the Flagstaff woman remains positive.

She's got a reputation among her friends, family and workmates as positive, upbeat and generous. "I'm a giver, not a taker," she laughed.

Ms Gosnell's best mate Sharon Henderson said: "She's one out of the box. You can't get another Tina."

Ms Henderson said she was keen to make Ms Gosnell's girls' night a bit of a pampering night too, with a beauty therapist attending to doll her up.

If you would like to help Tina with her last wish, phone Sharon Henderson on 07 8499 182.

- © Fairfax NZ News