Increased fragility has dashed Les Marsh's plan to celebrate his centenary by climbing Mauao but it's one of the only feats he has been unable to complete.

'When he sets a goal, he's going to achieve it. He's really determined,” says his son Lew.

Les walked around Mauao for his 99^th birthday and had been training for the climb up by doing laps around the garden of his retirement village.

Last year he told The Weekend Sun about his plans to climb the landmark, he wasn't sure if he would make it but wanted to give it a try.

Instead of the climb he's had two birthday celebrations, where cake, bubbly and tales about his life flowed.

'It's great to see how all your good friends flock around you,” quips Les after opening his birthday cards from The Queen and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Turning 100 doesn't take the cake for Les Marsh, pictured with his son Lew, he's spent his life serving others. Image: Alisha Evans.

His sense of humour is still firmly intact as is his faith, it has underpinned his life and led him and his late wife Hazel around the world.

They spent 1972 visiting Kiwi missionaries on all continents and moved to Papua New Guinea in 1974 to teach at an isolated bush Bible school for 14 years.

Living in mud, slush and tramping in the bush was all worth it because they taught people practical skills, how to read and write and shared their faith, says Les.

'We thought it was all worthwhile because eternity depends on this.”

He received a British Empire Medal from the Papua New Guinea government for his years of service to the community.

Les served in the New Zealand Army during WWII, whilst training in Te Aroha he met Hazel, they courted via correspondence for two years during Les' posting in New Caledonia.

On returning to Aotearoa they were engaged then Les set off in 1945 for Egypt and Italy.

'I grew up pretty quick there because you get called up when you're 21 and it's amazing how little you know.”

Les retired to Katikati at age 66, but continued serving the community by maintaining the town flower gardens and did return trips to Papua New Guinea.

The centenarian has always been up for a challenge, during his 80s he did the Rotorua Round the Lake Marathon five times with his son John.

While Les no longer has the energy for running he has created a legacy that anything is possible – provided you work for it.