Friend to go the distance for mate

Most people would like to think they would go the extra mile for their best mate, but Justin van Wichen is doing far more than that.

He is going about 2200km for his.

Beginning on December 19, the Stoke pilot is cycling from Nelson to Bluff and back to support his friend Dave Cochrane, and to raise funds for Ranui House (The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust).

About three years ago, Mr Cochrane was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.

He is in clinical remission, but Mr van Wichen said he still wanted to support his mate.

"I really wanted to do something for him but obviously I can't live the cancer - that's bigger than me and cancer is bigger than all of us."

So he decided to swap his kayak with a friend who had a road bike, and has since spent countless hours on the road training.

He hopes to raise $11,000 through his trip, as well as informing people at campgrounds, where he will stay, about the work of Ranui House, a centre that provides accommodation for patients, including Mr Cochrane, and their families who have been in Christchurch Hospital.

"Where it's situated it was overlooking the Avon (River) with people punting up and down, people in coffee houses. To him it was like people are still having a real life, it was something he could grasp hold of while he was in isolation," Mr van Wichen said.

He has a couple of sponsors and is looking for 500 people to donate one cent for every kilometre he rides.

He flew to Hawaii on Tuesday where he intends to ride the Ironman route, and also has the Source to Sea and Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge in his sights before his 18-day odyssey.

Wife Jude will be in support, although she still can't quite believe what her husband has taken on. "I confess that in the beginning I thought if I kept quiet the plan would go away, but it never did go away."

Mr van Wichen said the hours of training and preparation were a small price to pay to show a mate he cares. "A lot of my motivation is for Dave. I want to see him well and healed and leading a really active life."