Leaving Castlecliff Beach on January 30 for a fundraising ride to Napier will be (from left) cyclists John Miller, Debbie Cain, Nigel McIlroy, Les Wilson and Marshall Tangaroa. Photo / Bevan Conley
Leaving Castlecliff Beach on January 30 for a fundraising ride to Napier will be (from left) cyclists John Miller, Debbie Cain, Nigel McIlroy, Les Wilson and Marshall Tangaroa. Photo / Bevan Conley
Slurping energy gels, wearing lycra and riding their road bikes, 10 Whanganui friends intend to ride coast to coast to help a mate diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
Organiser Nigel McIlroy used to work with George Moana and found him "a good egg and all round nice guy".
Moana,33, has three children aged 11, 4 and 1, and was told he had terminal brain cancer in mid December.
The cancer spread fast and he has now lost an eye and part of his jaw in an operation.
His cancer treatment at first appeared to be successful, but the cancer has recurred and is headed for his brain stem.
George Moana pictured with wife Nicole and children Ezekiel, Jade and Willow. Photo / Supplied
McIlroy and others in Debbie Cain's cycling group were having coffee after a ride when he came up with the idea of the 260km trek.
"They were on board straight away. They were all enthusiastic and keen," McIlroy said.
There are now 10 confirmed riders. The oldest is 75 and will make the trip in two days, starting at 7am from Castlecliff Beach on January 29. The rest will leave from the same place at 6am on January 30.
They will pass through Feilding, Dannevirke and Hastings and climb some major hills, including the Saddle Rd north of the Manawatū Gorge.
They'll travel with three support vehicles, stop for lunch and wait at the tops of hills for everyone to catch up.
"We have a no-drop policy. The fact that we always look after each other helps build the cycling community," McIlroy said.
The group has been riding 15km to 17km every Saturday and Sunday morning. It has stepped this up to 100km on Saturday and 50km on Sunday, to train for the coast to coast ride.
All the cyclists have ridden around Lake Taupō and some have done even longer trips - but riding for 10 to 12 hours in a day will be a new challenge for them.
"It's a tough one, but it's not compared to what [the Moana family] are going through," McIlroy said.
Only the most extreme weather will stop the ride going ahead.
The financial support from funds raised would mean Moana had the peace of mind that his wife and children would be looked after, and enable them to focus their remaining time together, McIlroy said.
Posting on the Givealittle page, Nicole Moana said the donations had allowed the family to make a trip to Wellington and do some fun activities.
George Moana was going sky diving - which was on his bucket list - and he and Nicole would have three nights' glamping in Martinborough.
Some of the money would also go toward a funeral, and the family's mortgage.
