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18 Aug 2010 | 1:53 pm
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FreedomSkate: Check out our website for the 60 minute, "Living The Dream" video - a self-made documentary on Tomo's journey longboarding NZ in 2009.
9 Dec 2009 | 6:50 pm
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FreedomSkate: Check out www.freedomskate.co.nz for the Good Morning interview shown on TV One this morning.
15 Nov 2009 | 9:19 am
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FreedomSkate: In the house of God in auckland . Heading to the cape reigna tanite day 1 begins 2m. love the freedom skate team! xx

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Where Rubber Meets the Road ...

Done and Dusted

Written by Tomo

Hello all, hope life is well for you!

where do i start......
i have been planning Freedomskate for just under two years now ...
20months of planning and 2 months of pushing an entire distance of 2100 kms for cancer.
at 10.47am on sunday the 10th of Jan i saw my dream ... GROW

so many stories... so many hours on a board.. and so amny amazing people
Everyone told me that this would change my life .. and you know what they where right.
every morning i wake up i dream of skating somewhere new .. somewhere more vast and wide..

one coutry at a time for freedomskate .
so many awesome plans for us this year we are introducing "This is Love, This is Hope . Welcome to Freedomskate"
but we are still planning, will redo website within next few months too.

i guess for me Freedomskate isn't about skating New Zealand for cancer , this is my love and my destiny.
i cant thankyou all enough for believing in my crazy and some times idiotic ideas , but they paid off.
know that you didn't just believe in me , but you are impacting people whoa re sufering with the big C.

i know with everything i have that Freedomskate will be huge, this will be something so much bigger
than what we could have ever possibly dreamt.

You know every morning when i'd wake up , blisters and aching body . God was so much bigger.
i'd never throw my religion down someones throat, but i know that every time a truck or a car was so so close to taking me out that Gods hands where upon me and guiding me to bluff, ill never take glory for this skate, it was never going to about me, i would never do this on my own, i would of given up by far , Gods Glory goes beyond my fame.
everyday i thanked him for strength and asked him to guide me to the next stop .
On thurs the 7th of jan i pulled fibres in my Achilles. Friday,saturday,sunday was utter pain, i was unsure if i'd make it..
but because of HIS GREAT LOVE... here i write to you that this was the best thing i'll ever do in life..

Someone told me to get a real Job... get a real Job ? this is way more better than any job because i know at the end
of the day i am impacting , i am trying to help someone's life , it dosen't get much better than that.!!!

so i hope freedomskate has opened up your eyes, there is alot of pain that Cancer patients have to go through day after day, but TOGETHER we can make a difference , we can believe in a cure....

Thankyou to every sponsor... to every person that let us stay at your place, that fed us and let us shower, to all the supporters and a special thankyou to the ones who said i couldn't do it!
i love you all so much pleacse help us to believie in a cure by donating today!

So much love , and thakyous

Tomo
Freedomskate
xXx

4 More days!

Written by Tomo

WOW!!!

Hello everyone!! i hope all is well with you!
it is the end of day 61 and has been amazing and crap all in 1!!
i have skated 60km in pouring rain!! was almost run over
and skated through a huge thunder and lightning storm!!!!!!!!!!!

Matty Grant is my new driver and love having awesome times with him we have started a game of fart tennis!
simple fart as loud you can and if its not loud its a fault hahaha Good times!!

two huge shout outs!
Thanks so much to Palmerstons Pioneer Motel and The families we met for your am,azing hospitaility!!!
and Dunedin Cheapskates!! thanks for the new bearings you all rock!!

i have been thinking alot lately of the skate and this is what my dear friend Lisa Price wrote to me via Facebook
Day 143 for me - two surgeries, one missing breast; 17 missing lymph nodes; scarred underarm and chest; 5 rounds of chemotherapy; total baldness; endless nausea and tiredness, aching back, legs, neck, bones and I won't even mention the emotional trauma.... 95 days to go.

We CAN do this! We can do anything with God on our team xxxx

This really opened my eyes .. here i am complaining about a saw leg ... we have everything compared to so many cancer victims...

I urge you to help me to believe for a cure, please, there is hope!

So mych love to you all !!

Tomo

Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2010 18:53

153km in 24 hours!

Written by Tomo
The title says it all everyone,its true little me skated 153kms, in 24hours with like 1hour sleep haha! was an insane night, we were all pumped on red bull hahaha, so the boys kept pushing me , feeding and fueling me to make a huge 153km day , insane!! its been so weird lately. Matt and Kris have gone home today, i was pretty gut wrenched when they left, you bond with people when your on the road together, sucks to say goodbye to these guys. last nights push has resulted in two blisters to grow double there size !! Ouch ouch Ouch. the boys were great, such incredible people to watch a mad man skate at 14km an hour in the middle of the night! top work boys! you might be asking "why skate flippen 153km?" well Matt and Kris need to be back on Friday the 18th, so with us all stressed at 10 o'clock Thursday night i say ' nah lets push to Christchurch" the boys looked at me and go right lets do it, come on how good are that! two shout outs! 1. We were in Blenheim Kris needed new skate shoes Cheapskates said they'll give us 10% off. we went to skatemart, he gave Kris 20% off these shoes that were already 30% off so half price! thanks bro, you are the man, everyone go check out skatemart in Blenheim 2. kaikoura Top Ten Holiday park for giving us a free spa!! was so needed!\you guys rock! so i leave you with this "Passion is your first step to achievement. your destiny, not your desire DNA or IQ, determines your destiny, the greater your desire the greater your potentional" Dream bid, let your heart break and desire for something so much bigger!! its time for me to get some shut eye, Godbless Believing in a cure Love Tomo xxx
Last Updated on Friday, 18 December 2009 16:44

South Island

Written by Tomo

Yo !!

what an awesome day,
well i slept through my alarm and almost missed the ferry!!! hahaha good times,
stayed with the most awesome people last night , and the night before too, such humbling and amazing people.
made awesome new friends as well , Chris, Mick , Rion and the lads , you rock good times ay!

So i got the ferry over to the south island this morning , one of my closest mates came with me, Laurie bro you are the man,
was awesome to hang with you bro! Love ya bud!

was a pretty emotional day , to see all my close friends and family, had awesome lunch,laughs hugs and tears with them all!
was an amazing day good times,
we had a huge team skate with us today! 3 extra support cars 4 extra skaters was insane!!!
have got my friend Matty and Kris with me, huge welcome to you guys we going to have an awesome times !!!

Aite, im very saw and so so tired aye! nunite all , love you ta bits!

Love Tomo
xxx

Living the DREAM

Written by Tomo

What a week . . .

I am in Palmerston North , its Just about 11pm and am absolutely shattered!
its sunday the 6th of December, usually today i take a day off but we got up at 6am and pushed
for 3hours to palmy , small day only 43 kms!
this week we clocked a massive 402kms! ! thats almost half of what we have done
our total distance stands at 967 kms! stoked.

what a week .. monday Harriet broke down and even though it poured with rain i still made it 40kms,
before we had to get towed all the way back to Hamilton, it wasnt looking good, Bill's uncle said it could cost me a few
hundred dollers ... but thankfully we got the van fixed for free the next day , and it was to be a new day...

it rained Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Friday this week , sort of got over being cold and drenched all day pretty quick!
we crossed the dessert road this week too, this was a very hard day mentally and physically, it was freezing cold this day
and instead of just being in stubbies i layered up pretty well, i was really praying for a hot shower this day , and that i got!!
and nearing the end of the day , my pushing foot said " oi no more" and it felt like it was about to fall off, so i took a 5min break got back on the board and pushed though to Taihape.

so its been weird, now upto day 23 almost 24 and i feel really sad, like " wow the time has gone" and where has it gone too?
the emotional side has been hard this week, being away from family and friends is starting to take a toll , sometimes all
i wanna do is be held and cry and be told " it'll be okay" . i wish i could put a word on the feelings i face everyday ..

but am crossing the ferry on the 14th of December and cant wait to see everyone it will be a emotional but awesome day!

maybe a rollercoaster isthe best way .. haha yeah it is ..
i have to walk alot of hills this kills you mentally but when you get to the top theres always a down hill to ride!

lately i have been getting a lttle irrated with people's praise to me, man this skates not about me..
its not about trying to look cool, get on tv or get famous NO WAY! this is about honouring my mate and
who he was to me ! at quite frankly the end of the day .. its not the cans of baked beans , or the bananas that give me
my strength to push on .. its my GOD , He is the one who strengthens me when im weak!
AND HIS GLORY GOES BEYOND ALL FAME!!

I love you all ,thankyou for believing in my dream,
Godbless
Believing in a cure

Tomo
xxx

So far

Written by Tomo

o where do i start .. I've been on the road for 20 days , how huge is that?
cant believe it and everyday feels like a dream ...

i took a few days off in Hamilton (Thurs arvo to Sunday) i needed time off board to let the blistairs heal,
and also to get my head around the skate and to know what it was all about .. some how sort of thought by doing this skate would bring Marcus
back .. but unfortunately i've realised that nothing that we can ever do will never bring the loved ones bak that we have lost,

there's been awesome times on the road, the generosity and hospitality of people who take us in will never ever leave me.
we have met incredible families on the way , people who just love to help others, thats what makes the skate all worth it at the
end of the day,

but i wont lie.. the skate is not all fun fun happy times, my board can prove that , there many times when ive broken and the board has
been throwen, there many times where the skate feels impossible, the blistairs kill you everytime you push and your leg just wants to give up.

i cant put words to the feelings i face .. but at the end of the day .. my sponsors , my friends and family have been there .
and above all i know How Big is Our GOD, he is the one who strengthens me day after Day after day.

and the support team -

Marcus Drake: Dude what crack up times we had together on the road! Flying you home sucked so bad,
you put p with me day after day when i was grumpy and saw .. yet still you made freedomskate happen! hope to
have the awesome privellage of taking you back on again soon bro, may God bless you and that you learn so much for the time on the road!

Bill Rathsamy: Knowen you like four days bro, an its been awesome! hearing and seeing your heart! its huge bro its huge , thanks so much
bro you are doing an amazing job bud!

so i miss alot of people back home, i wont name you but you all know who you are, Freedomskate would'nt of happened without
your love an support , and ill never be able to stop saying thankyou

ill try blog as much as i can, but the easiest way for you to add me on Facebook,
i hope life is well for you and i leave you with the wise words from my youth Pastor
"This is your Hope, This is your Love and This is your Freedom!"

Godbless
Believing in a cure

Tomo

Day 11

Written by Tomo
we headed to Hamilton - this was a very hard day for me mentally and emotionally. we are staying with some dudes and it will be a good night! going to rest for a few days! legs are very sore now with blisters that sting! YOUCH!

Day 10

Written by Tomo
we headed towards huntly just a small day... spoke at a youth event tonight, an awesome team working with some truely awesome kids! One in particular got my eye, a young Maori boy called Sione. i know Gods plans for his life are huge! we Stayed with Anne and Ian who help pastor a church, yet another awesome family, may God bless them!

Day 9

Written by Tomo
Today, we entered the labyrinth called the Auckland road system - WHAT A NIGHTMARE! what a mission to get through it!!! so many side roads - got my sunglasses run over! we skated out and headed to Bombay

Day 8

Written by Tomo
We skated 19 km to Warkworth a little town out of Auckland had lunch got groceries then the Van broke down! Good one, Harriet, you silly support Vehicle!!! $102 and we were off to Auckland. we reached silverdale and ended day 8 there. we stayed at my friends Sommers place - was awesome to see her again, then Hamish a old friend from school came over and hung out - awesome to see what Gods doing in his life!
Last Updated on Monday, 30 November 2009 18:55

Day 7

Written by Tomo
Rest day - went ta church and checked out a moto x track. good times with the Wellsford gang!!

Day 6

Written by Tomo

by FAR the most physical,mental and emotional Day for me... i broke down a number of times this day.. the stress and the pain all too much..There where alot of hills, crappy roads and a hard head wind which all together made it the most unjoyable experience for me.. i had to walk up the Brynderwins, this took me close to 2 hours to walk up aye... not fun at all. we reached a little town, but people who had been texting me that day had made me angry so i told Marcus that we will push another 19km to the next town, this allowed me to calm down and to pray to God for the wisdom i need. so we arrived in wellsford at 9.30 pm after skating for close to 11hours i was shattered and utterly exhausted.. we stayed with the coolest most humble family who let us shower, feed us and let us stay for two nights thankyou so much guys you rock!

a total distance of 82km today good work team!!

Day 5

Written by Tomo
We headed towards Whangarei, it was a very good day skating today and we pulled a good 55 km day. We ended up staying at my Aunty and Uncles which was good . such gooood food!!! We also went to the Zion WildLife gardens today and saw tigers and lions!!! awesome times!! thanks so much to them for giving us a discount!! My uncle took us round his farm on his jeep/quad - was sweet ..
Last Updated on Monday, 30 November 2009 18:50

Day 4

Written by Tomo
after a good sleep i felt good and ready for another day on the road... its been a hard day today, not emotionally but physically.. have walked a good two hours up hill, had to sit down and just cry today!! it was a long long walk! but we are in Kerikeri now and the day will still go till we hit the next town! Thankyou to all of you! Tomo xx
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 19:33

Day 3

Written by Tomo
we're heading into Kaitaia and i had 2 radio interviews with the local radio there as well as a paper interview too, but today i didn't feel great, i was tired and very sore , my feet hurting i was grumpy, then i found out stuff about friends back home which caused me to breakdown along the way, "it'll be okay" thats all i wanted to think, the weather was very muggy, and changed all day, i wasn't having fun today . all though Marcus tried to help cheer me up by acting like a fool, i knew deep down that this was hard today... i was tooted at alot today and many people told me where to go .. one guy tooted swerved and told me where to go and i broke and pukled the fingers and yelled at him, i had had enough by then!! he turned around and yelled his head at me and i yelled back and told him IM SKATING NEW ZEALAND FOR ........ CANCER!!! SHOW A BIT OF SYMPATHY MAN!!! i know i shouldn't of done that and many people say you shouldn't say stuff like that Tomo but at the end of the day its not them going through that crappiness and being told where to go, but i have learnt now and now know how to react, i wont lie to you all, its hard and when people treat me like crap i don't tend to want o be there doormat, but i'm learning and growing!! we made it to Whangoroa Harbour.. i cannot tell you how proud of myself i felt today! i pushed though and made it a good 65km day, i don't need to ask GOD for strength he already gave me that so i THANK him for that!! Tomo xx
Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 20:03

Day 2

Written by Tomo
we made some breakfast and heading down the road , we made it to Awanui and stayed at a lovely older couples place, they fed us and gave us a shower and beds to stay in! God continues to blow me away with peoples hospitality!
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 19:22

Day 1

Written by Tomo
i woke up to the sound of heavy rain and gusty winds hittting the van, i said to myself " it'll go by the morning" but nooo it didin't , we cooked up some baked beans and heading towards bluff! it was very wet and visibility was poor!! couln't see 20 metres in front of me! i took a hard crash within the first hour, the roads where very wet and slippery and i leaned too hard, too fast and paind the price, no major damage - just some lovely bruising and lumps to the elbows! KIDS ALWAYS WHERE YA HELMET!!! who knows what would of happened if i didn't have mine on!! then we hit 8km of road works! this took a long long time to walk! it started to clear up and we made it to Te Kao where we stayed behind the Dairy that night - they let us shower and gave us free food out of the pie warmer!! what a day!! Tomo xxx
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 19:23

Driving to the Cape

Written by Tomo
It was so awesome to be on the road! everything has been an awesome experience for me! loved crossing the cook straight on the boat even though it was rough i managed to keep my food inside of me!! we drove up to Palmerston North on friday and stayed at this most awesome couples place!! day 2 was filled with many laughs and photos!! ill try get these up ASAP. we stayed in Auckland that day, the next day we drove to The Cape, got a flat tire on the way!! but Marcus just finished his Automotive course so we were all Good!! now to SKATE!! and live my dream!
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 19:23

Up, Up and Away - Woo Hoo!

Written by Tomo
well what do i say ... today i left to start my 19month long planned journey . full of heartaches,pain and then the miracles upon the miracles, the wheels will go round and they're go around and they're still go around! and ill continue to thank everyone of you for your hard work and support!! a million thanks to you all. my mate Marcus (the infamous ferguson) is driving for me and its just been so flippen amazing!!!! so many laughs and jokes !!! im heading to auckland tomorrow! we'll start on monday!! ill keep u posted love you all, believing in a cure Tomo XxX
Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 21:34