Jet skiers will embark on an epic journey from Pilot Bay on Monday in an effort to raise money for the Melanoma Foundation.

The 600km Yamaha Melanoma Foundation Ski-NZ 2013 will see jet skiers travel 100km each day along some of the country's most picturesque coastline from Tauranga to Russell in the Bay of Islands.

PWC ‘FUNdraiser' aims to raise $60,000-$70,00 for melanoma

Starting with registration, a briefing and a welcome barbecue in Tauranga on Sunday the skiers will then embark on six legs at 10am on Monday, with the aim of raising $60,000 to $70,000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand.

The idea, which is modelled on similar events in Australia, is the brainchild of PWC world record holder and dedicated melanoma campaigner Jeremy Burfoot.

'On Monday we leave Tauranga and head to Whitianga, with stops at Slipper Island and Pauanui,” explains Jeremy.

'The next day, we head first to Great Mercury Island and then around Cape Colville to Coromandel Town.

Wednesday jetskiers will visit Waiheke Island and Auckland before stopping at Takapuna for ‘auction night'.

'Thursday sees us off to Kawau and Omaha, before enjoying a half day at some of Matakana's finest wineries.

'Friday's voyage is from Omaha to Marsden Cove for ‘seafood night' and our final leg is to Russell, via the famous Hole in the Rock off Cape Brett. The event finishes with ‘Last Night Madness', a big celebration for everyone involved, in Russell.”

Jeremy describes the event as a unique combination of 'fun and fundraising”.

'While it will certainly be a great adventure, there is a serious side, too.”

Jermey explains that entrants are each required to raise a minimum of $1500 in tax deductible sponsorship.

'We are encouraging participants to compete with each other to see who can raise the most sponsorship,” he says.

All of the money raised through these sponsorships will go direct to the Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand.

Participants must take part on a well-maintained, sit-down PWC no older than 2005. In keeping with the event's 'awareness of melanoma” and safety messages, participants will also be required to wear a lifejacket, full face helmet, eye protection, gloves, shoes and a full length rash suit or wet suit for protection from the sun.

Organisers are also encouraging those entering to carry a personal locator beacon.

The PWCs will be trailered on shore each night so participants will also require some type of 'shore crew” to follow the event by road.

Jeremy, a melanoma survivor who set two world records on his Yamaha VXR1800 Wave Runner - for the fastest 1000km on a PWC and for the longest distance travelled on a PWC in six hours - will be taking part, as will Yamaha's Brendan Grant.

'I strongly encourage as many PWC owners and enthusiasts as possible to join us,” he says.

'If you are an adrenalin junkie or just love cruising around some of New Zealand's most iconic spots, with a like-minded group of adventurers, then the Yamaha Melanoma Foundation Ski-NZ 2013 has to be the ‘must-do' event of 2013.”