Kidney Kids patients pay tribute to Jonah

Jaden Movold, who was born with more than 12 medical conditions, met Jonah Lomu on three occasions. Photo / Supplied

He might have been the most intimidating figure to have run onto a rugby field, but Jonah Lomu was a gentle giant when it came to the dozens of children he supported through his charity work.

Jaden Movold, 11, met the 1.96m colossus on three occasions and initially didn't realise he was speaking to a rugby icon.

"He was just nice," Jaden said. "He's just humble - he's a down to earth dude ... he was fun to hang out with."

Movold, who was born with more than 12 medical conditions including spina bifida, excess fluid on the brain and scoliosis, even took Lomu on at an arm wrestle.

"Jonah let me win," he said. He also gave Jaden what is now one of his most prized possessions: a signed rugby ball urging him to "be strong".

"He taught me to be positive, be tough and never give up like he never gave up," Jaden said.

"I'm really sad [that he has passed away] because I won't be able to see him again and talk like we used to talk."

Bay of Plenty teenager Matthew Bindon, aged 15, met Lomu through the Kidney Kids NZ charity, for which the rugby star was a patron.

Bindon, who was born with only one functioning kidney, said meeting Lomu a couple of years ago had been inspiring.

"You could feel the energy around him - he was such a vibrant person. There was something about him that was really lovable.

"It really touched me that he spent time with me. He's a great person who's gone now and who has done so much for us."

Kidney Kids NZ chief executive Keith Mackenzie said the organisation couldn't have asked for a better patron than Lomu.

"I think the important thing was the kids knew that he had experienced kidney disease -he had gone through the trials of dialysis, he'd had a transplant - so from their point of view it was reassuring for them to have somebody like Jonah to talk to," he said.

"They were blown away by the fact that he was prepared to come along, sit down, talk and just be one-on-one with them."

For more information about Kidney Kids, visit www.kidneykids.org.nz