Our Story
We’re Kathryn Brown and Primrose Hungwe, Co-Founders of Altered Freedom.
Our friendship began at work—but it deepened through a shared experience with breast cancer. Kathryn was diagnosed at 55, and Primrose, already a survivor from age 30, became a huge source of support. Through that journey, we discovered a shared passion: helping others navigate recovery with strength and confidence.
In 2023, we hosted a breast cancer education session at Foodstuffs South Island, raising awareness for both women and men—because around 25 men are diagnosed in Aotearoa each year. The response was overwhelming and encouraged us to do more.
We also talked about staying active during and after treatment—and how difficult that can be with the risk of lymphoedema. When Primrose was training for the Tongariro Crossing, she found that carrying a regular backpack was uncomfortable and risky. That’s when she discovered a specially designed breast cancer recovery backpack from Spain, by Woman'sBack® —but it was only available in Europe, and shipping to New Zealand was over €100!
We saw an opportunity - to meet a need and make a difference.
Together, we reached out to the team at Woman'sBack®, trialled the backpack, built a relationship, and in October 2024 signed a distribution agreement—bringing this unique product not just to New Zealand and Australia, but to all of Oceania.
Now, through Altered Freedom, this backpack is available right here—making it easier for people in our region to access a practical, empowering tool for recovery and active living.
We believe in thriving beyond survival. Whether you're recovering from breast cancer, a heart procedure, shoulder injury, or another upper body condition, our mission is to support you to live actively, confidently, and with freedom.
Why Altered Freedom
We chose this name because a cancer diagnosis can feel like a loss of freedom—suddenly, you're on a journey no one wants to take. While that’s true in many ways, we believe freedom isn’t lost; it’s just altered. There are still choices we can make to prioritize our health and well-being, like staying active in ways that work for us.
The name also reflects the purpose of our backpack, which has been 'altered' to provide freedom from limitations and make movement easier.
Our Tag Line
Kia kaha!
Kia ū!
Be strong. Be determined.
Our tag line embodies the heart of both our cancer journey and our outdoor pursuits. The tagline, using Kia ū— the te reo Māori verb for determine, and noun for "breast"—reflects where this journey began: our shared experiences with breast cancer. Just as cancer requires resilience, strength, and unwavering determination, so does each mountain, trail, and outdoor challenge. Every step forward—whether up a steep trail or through the struggles of recovery—mirrors the courage and grit needed to overcome. This message is a reminder to push through obstacles and embrace resilience, keeping our focus on reaching new heights in both healing and adventure.