On board for cancer sufferers

MARION VAN DIJK/Nelson Mail

IN MEMORY: Tomo Chisnall, of Richmond, is planning to skate the length of New Zealand on his longboard in tribute to a friend who died of cancer and to raise money for the Nelson Region Hospice and Nelson Cancer Society.

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Nearly two years ago, one of Tomo Chisnall's best mates died of cancer.

Now he wants to do something to honour his friend and for other cancer sufferers, so the bubbly 19-year-old has set himself an ambitious challenge - travelling from Cape Reinga to Bluff on his longboard.

He wants to raise $10,000, which he will divide between the Nelson Region Hospice and the Nelson Cancer Society.

He admits that travelling nearly 2000 kilometres on what is essentially an oversized skateboard will be a challenge, but said it was a small price to pay to help those who were suffering. "Marcus had cancer and passed away in the hospice, so I want to do something for them and to honour him."

He regularly longboards between Nelson and Richmond, but is eyeing up a training regime that will allow him to travel between 40 and 90km a day.

Tomo aims to depart from Cape Reinga in October, hopefully with some sponsors on board to help him and his support crew.

Top of the list is a shoe sponsor, as he believes he will go through at least seven pairs on his journey, and he is also after a van, which he will emblazon with the words "cherish, remember, honour".

He will ask those who have lost friends and family to cancer to write the names of their loved ones on it as inspiration for his trip.

"At the end of the day, it's not about getting famous or looking cool, it's about doing something for people less fortunate than us."

A couple of friends who were to be boarding with him have had to pull out, but that isn't deterring Tomo from his goal.

"K by k, I'll be pushing my way," he laughed.

For more information, go to www.freedomskate.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News