New Zealand international cricketer Blair Tickner has announced wife Sarah has been diagnosed with leukaemia just weeks into their life-changing adventure.

Tickner is playing for English county side Derbyshire, the first overseas assignment of his domestic career, and was joined in the UK by Sarah and their nine-month-old daughter Florence.

Sarah, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, has already started treatment but is now unable to travel and will remain in the UK.

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“Life has dealt us a really bad hand this time,” Tickner wrote.

“This strong and beautiful women will get through any challenge.

“Sarah has recently been diagnosed with leukaemia and is undergoing treatment in the UK until she is in remission.

“We have no doubt she will get through this and we can have the family back together.

“Thanks to all our friends and family for all the love, support and positivity.”

A fundraiser started by close friend Angus Schaw is nearing $20,000.

He said the money would be used to support family members flying to England while helping the Tickners with the costs of raising their child

“The New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association is supporting them and it’s likely that other cricket organisations will help as well,” Schaw wrote.

“However, there is no doubt Sarah, Blair and Flo will need all our support over the medium to long term.

“Being in another country with limited family support is going to be a challenge enough and then there will no doubt be other challenges as they work through the treatment and recovery Sarah will require.

“This will be a long battle for the family, which the money that is raised will assist greatly in the months ahead.

“Sarah is so incredibly strong and we have no doubt she will get through this but our support is needed to make this battle a little easier on them.

“Sarah and Blair are known for putting smiles on our faces in the Hawke’s Bay community in everything they do, now it’s our turn to try and support them through this tough time.”

The couple are well known for owning a cafe in Hastings.

The Tickners married in August 2022 in the midst of the cricketer’s career-changing run of form.

He first debuted for New Zealand in the T20 format in 2019 but reached new highs from 2022 onwards.

Tickner was knocking on the door of a Test call-up when an ODI debut arrived first, making the most of his chance with four wickets in a victory.

He made his Test debut in February 2023 against England but it proved a bittersweet memory.

Cyclone Gabrielle had ripped apart Hastings just days earlier, with the cricketer taking time out from training to help out the Hawke’s Bay region.

“Heartbreaking to come home to the Bay and see what the cyclone has done to the place I love,” he wrote.

“A few days helping family, friends and anyone we could find who needed a hand.

“Awesome to see the Central Stags boys (Tickner’s NZ first-class team) putting in a huge shift over the last week and especially helping my family in need.”