This week's Newsmaker is Sione Paea, who organised a fundraiser at Sunset Primary School for child cancer and is preparing to bike up and down the country for the cause.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am 19, born in Tonga and migrated to New Zealand in search of a
better life with my family in December, 2007. I spent my late teens growing up in Warkworth where my father worked as a farm manager. Went to Mahurangi College and in 2012, I was the Deputy Head Prefect and Head Sports Prefect of the school. I moved to Rotorua three months ago and am currently pursuing a career in the fitness industry and hoping to become one of the world's top fitness models in the next five years.
Tell us a bit about the work you do in the community?
I have a dream of making the world a better place for teenagers and youth. I organise and run events like movie nights, Boxfit classes, family fun day, youth sports day and more, where youth can rise and shine, show their gifted talents, and can interact with one another - where different colours can come together as one. I believe that us, young people, just need a bit of encouragement and direction to activate the hidden potential within us.
Next month you'll be rowing and biking across the country to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation, what motivated you to do that?
This is how I want to farewell my teenage years, bury my past and open a new chapter as a 20-year-old old in December. Since I have lost a 9-year-old friend to cancer this year, I decided to honour him with this big challenge ahead of me where I could feel a fraction of the pain he went through. But also to raise money to support kids who are still fighting this uphill battle. If I could put a smile on one child's face, that is success for me.
How are you feeling ahead of the challenge?
I don't have a 'plan b' in my life. My biggest fear is that plan b will give me doubt that I wouldn't be able to complete my initial plan. So the only direction I'm heading is forward, and the only direction I'm heading when I fall is up. I have prepared myself physically, mentally and emotionally leading up to this big challenge in November and I am looking forward to it.