KEY POINTS:
A Christchurch family have started a 1500km journey on a tandem mountain bike through some of New Zealand's most rugged terrain in a bid to help the world's poor.
The Pawson family's month-long trek is believed to be the first time such a trip has been undertaken in New Zealand, traversing the length of the South Island, between the bays that meet Foveaux Strait and Cook Strait.
They began the ride from Colac Bay in Southland at 7.30am yesterday.
Sean Pawson, his wife, Gill, and their five teenage children are sharing the challenge, with support from family and friends.
Mr Pawson will be the permanent rider at the front of the cycle, and family and friends will share the riding duties on the back seat. They will camp along the way.
They are seeking to raise $100,000 to support World Vision's efforts in combating poverty and child labour in Third World countries.
"We saw how ... children were being ruthlessly robbed of their childhood by merciless creditors," Mr Pawson said.
He has spent months mapping out the route for the journey and getting permission from landowners.
The trip will include a rafting section and river crossings.
The family were especially looking forward to traversing the Southern Alps.
"Just after Christmas, three of us took a flight in a small Cessna over one of the high sections of the route to check it out from the air and get some film," he said.
"Our pilot flew us up one of the narrow valleys towards the mountaintops under a heavy cloud layer.
"I felt really nervous looking out the window at the side of the mountains slipping by."
* To view the family's progress, or make a donation, go to www.cyclingwiththepoor.co.nz
