More than 20 jetskiers are starting a six-day trip to Russell from Mount Maunganui today in a New Zealand-first charity event.
The jetskiers hope the 600km journey up the east coast to the Bay of Islands will raise $40,000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand.
Tauranga man Peter Whale has partnered up with Russell-based Callum Farnell, with the two men acting as each other's support crew. They have already raised $6000.
Event organiser Jeremy Burfoot, who holds several jetski-related world records, said he had a melanoma in 2005 and had since worked with the foundation on ways to raise awareness and funds.
Ahead of the launch, cancer survivors were to take part in a walk yesterday around Mauao, Mt Maunganui's distinctive mountain, to raise awareness of melanoma.