Mark Smith, trail builder, battling cancer

Smitty is a legendary, pioneering mountain bike trail builder in Rotorua starting with Be Rude No To in 2003. He’s been battling cancer for some time. Last weekend his car and two ebikes were stolen. Mark is on a benefit so couldn’t afford insurance. “Mountain biking is my mental health I plan everything around getting on my bike."

In 2020 I lost my left ear though skin cancer followed up with radiotherapy. Basically, didn’t work that year. Then, in 2022, I was hospitalised with a gangrenous ruptured appendix. Life support type stuff. When all that happened my immune systems weakened allowing Merkel cell carcinoma (rare form of melanoma) to develop. I was given maybe six months. Currently at 19 months. Had chemo for four months in 2023.

I started to recover, then, my right ear needed a 9 hour operation in June this year. Now, my latest CT scan showed Merkel cell on my brain, so, now, brain surgery...

All though this I’ve gotten off the deck and pushed on - I only have one way."