The father of a young Tauranga woman who passed away last year is putting the final touches on a motorcycle he's built in her memory, to be auctioned for charity this weekend.

Mark Kimber polishes the petrol tank of the 1974 Triumph Trident 150v he has built from frame in his late daughter's memory. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Jesse Gibb-Kimber was born with a congenital heart defect and was not expected to live past her fifth birthday.

But she defied the odds and made it to 21, before passing away in Auckland Hospital last October.

Now her father Mark Kimber has built a 1974 Triumph Trident 150v from a bare frame and will auction it off at Brewers Bar in Mount Maunganui tomorrow night.

It's been a struggle for Mark to find parts for the T150V, and two months is a 'very short time” to build it in, but he intends to have it finished for the auction at 6.30pm.

'Trying to build a bike from a bare frame that's 40 years old, when you can't go into any shop and buy parts, to do that in two months is a near-impossible task – but it'll be ready.”

All proceeds from the auction will go to Bay of Plenty @Heart – which provides support and aid to children with heart defects in the region.

While he can't estimate what he has spent on the project, Mark says if he could he would pay $15,000 for the motorcycle.

'I have a minimum $12,000 loan that I would buy it at, but if it goes over that I'll be happy.”

A number of people have donated parts, with a plaque at Brewers Bar displaying their names.

Jesse's brother Luke and his partner have helped Mark complete the project – which has taken many sleepless nights – but is all worth it.

Jesse was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and an aortic abnormality at 18 months old. At the time there were seven other Kiwi children with the same problem, but Jesse's condition was the worst, says Mark.

Despite her prognosis, Jesse lived a full life and was always positive, he says.

'Pauline and I knew we had special children from the outset. Even in death she never let her medical problem win.”

Mark was in the midst of planning the charity motorbike auction to raise money for Jesse when she died, so is now donating the money to Bay of Plenty @Heart in her name.

The auction is part of a full night planned in memory of Jesse at Brewers Bar on Saturday. There will be live bands and a special guest MC from 3pm, with the auction at 6.30pm.

Luke and father Mark have built the motorcycle together during the last two months.