For most, the festive season is a time of joy.
But for those who have lost friends or family during the year - it can be a particularly tough time.
Nic Russell knows this well.
She lost her daughter Kenzie to cancer just after Christmas in 2005.
The year following, she founded Kenzie's Gift, a charity that helps children and rangitahi navigate serious illness and death.
At the moment it's helping 53 young Kiwis with one-on-one therapy with clinical psychologists - last month alone it had 17 referrals.
This Christmas it's running a campaign called In Laughing Memory to encourage Kiwis to share their funny or quirky memories of their loved ones who have passed.
Nic has spent the past year recovering from a heart transplant - but says that hasn't slowed her down from wanting to honour her daughter's legacy.
Photo: Supplied
