The Whakamara resident went through every parent's worst nightmare when Ella was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of two.
Scott Bartley will cycle more than 700 kilometres across the North Island for his little girl, Ella.
The Whakamarama resident went through every parent's worst nightmare when Ella was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 2 years of age.
Now 9, you would never what she had been through lookingat her, but her father only knows too well.
In 2010, he took Ella to the doctor for what he thought was a stomach ache. The next day she was in Starship Children's Hospital having a tumour the size of a tennis ball removed from her brain.
"It is your worst nightmare," Mr Bartley told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"When you have kids, your whole perspective on what's important changes and to see in one of your children in such peril like that, it's soul destroying. There is nothing you can do."
Mr Bartley said he and his wife, Kim, had to put their trust completely into the skills of medical professionals which went "against everything instinctual about being a parent".
"We had to hand her over not knowing what was going to happen or if we were ever going to see her awake again. It was devastating. You do everything you can to protect your kids."
Mr Bartley said the tumour in his daughter's brain was massive.
"They cut into her brain as far as they dared when they took it out. The more digging they did, the more damage they did, so there was some damage to her brain. She had to re-learn how to walk before she left Starship."
Ella and Scott in Starship Hospital. Photo/Supplied
On April 1, Mr Bartley will join 399 others who will cycle across New Zealand on the Tour of New Zealand race. He had always been a keen cyclist, using his bicycle to commute when he lived in Auckland and London, but he had never taken on such an event.
It would be a challenge to cycle the 700km from Kaitaia to Wellington but one he was looking forward to. He was supporting the Child Caner Foundation on the ride, an organisation which pulled out everything for his family after his little girl was discharged from the hospital.
"The surgery saved her life. There were damaged to bits and pieces but we got home 16 days after the operation instead of months. In the hospital, you get the best acute care available but when you get home, you are on your own.
"That's when the Child Cancer Foundation really stepped up, they provided little things you don't think of when you leave the hospital. You just have no idea what is happening and long-term plans suddenly disappear. You really are alone with this sick child at home.
"They just help, they are there. No family should suffer through cancer alone and that's what they provided."
Mr Bartley said he had been involved with Child Cancer Foundation since 2010.
"We like to give back whenever we can. One thing we can do is help raise awareness of what they do and help raise money for them."
Scott Bartley will ride from Kaitaia to Wellington to support the Child Cancer Foundation. Photo/George Novak
"I love cycling. Riding my bike has been therapeutic for me, both physically and mentally, over the past seven years."
Fortunately, Ella exceeded all expectations of how she might recover and only suffered from some fine motor skill and visual impairments after her ordeal.
Her annual MRI scans had just been downgraded to happen every two years.
"To look at her now, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with her, she is my beautiful little girl" Mr Bartley said.
