Endurance ride - on a 50cc scooter

Photo / Thinkstock

The 250-strong Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, which will make its way to Hokitika this weekend after a slow crawl from Christchurch, had raised $137,324 by this morning.

Starting at dawn on Saturday, 250 people mounted on 50cc scooters will leave Christchurch and ride 252km across the alps to arrive in Hokitika around sunset. All proceeds will go to the New Zealand Cancer Society

The event is described as "the coldest, longest, hardest, most gruelling and uncomfortable test of endurance on a city scooter".

"We have been totally blown away by the interest in the event and amount of funds raised for the Cancer Society," organisers Jayne and Mike Rattray, of Christchurch, said today.

"We never even imagined that when we came up with this crazy idea in 2009 that it would snowball into the huge event that it is today."

Each rider is encouraged to get donations in support of their efforts, via their own personal on-line fundraising page.

Riders this year include mortgage guru Mike Pero, What Now! presenter Adam Percival, and Blair Newton, the cancer patient who inspired the safari.

Leading the fundraising charge is Chris Sutherland who has raised over $20,000 in support of his four-year-old old son Lachie, who is battling Neuroblastoma cancer.

Tristan Bailey is also auctioning his beloved Vespa which has been signed by the 2012 Crusaders Rugby Team, is second.

Total rider numbers are capped at 250, including four from Greymouth, and all places were snapped up within 18 days of the website going live. Since then, organisers have received over 100 requests to be wait-listed.

The organisers are encouraging a show of roadside supporters to cheer on the riders as they make their way through the West Coast. They are due at the Kumara Racecourse at 4.25pm and the outskirts of Hokitika at 4.55pm on Saturday.

Donations can be made at: fundraiseonline.co.nz/ScooterSafari2012/

- The Greymouth Star