(Seychelles News Agency) - A 21-year-old Seychellois is trying to raise funds to help combat cancer by attempting to water ski the approximately 40 kilometres of ocean that separates Praslin -- the second-most populated island of Seychelles -- from the main island of Mahe next month.

Diego Cardon's mother was diagnosed with cancer last year, spurring the fund-raising effort.

“My mother fell ill last year with terrible cancer and if we hadn't left Seychelles using our own funds she would have lost her life,” Cardon told SNA.  “The cancer health care here in Seychelles is lacking a large amount of the resources necessary to heal cancer patients,” he added.

Cardon, who comes from Praslin, will try to cover a distance of 40 km in April from the two main islands of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.

“I am training daily whether at sea on my ski or in the gym to ensure my best physical state for the event. I have been a lover of the sea for a long time and I am out there surfing, bodyboarding, diving, water skiing or anything to do with the sea,” said Cardon.

The Praslinois has taken his cause further and set up an online GoFundMe page -- www.gofundme.com/WaterSkiingOverCancerSeychelles where interested persons can donate funds. He is also working with the local 'Soroptimist' group, which had shown great interest.

Cardon said he aims to collect enough funds to purchase the medications, machines and other cancer healing equipment to allow the people of Seychelles to receive their cancer treatments locally.

Cardon has set up a Go Fund me page online. (Diego Rose Cardon/Facebook) Photo License: CC-BY

To reach out to the world, Cardon is also raising funds through an online donation page. This page updates donors on the event such as his training sessions.

He said that many more Seychellois of all ages should do these types of active charitable events which promote healthy lifestyles but at the same time fighting for a cause.

“We live in a place that is surrounded by water and that opens the door to numerous sports which can be used to raise funds for all kinds of causes. In terms of cancer using a physical act to raise funds is encouraging to patients as they can see that others are physically taking on a battle as well,” said Cardon.