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Omanu junior life savers are banding together in team mate Harrison Mundy's memory today, by proudly displaying red arm bands in the opening session of Oceans' 14.

Harrison died on Sunday after a brave battle with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, which grows in bones or soft tissue around them.

Mac Parker, 11, Jordan York, 12, and Tom Scott, 11, show their red arm bands in support of their late club mate Harrison Mundy. Photos: Luke Balvert

The 11-year-old is from a proud surf lifesaving family and his brave fight touched many in the movement, with organisers of the four-day Oceans' 14 Under-14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships planning a memorial in his honour.

As a poignant tribute to their club-mate the 52-strong Omanu team and parents offered support to the Mundy family strapping on the red tape, in what is a heartfelt time for both club and family.

And prior to the start of the annual carnival, competitors and hundreds of supporters crowded Mount Maunganui's Main Beach to pay tribute to Harrison with a minute's silence.

'Today is what we are calling red arm band Thursday. That is how we are showing support to the Mundy family in their time of loss,” says Omanu Surf Life Saving Club team manager Ross Parker.

'It's just the years the Mundy family have put into the surf club and this is a big loss.”

Ross, one of the three who paddled 350km down the Waikato River to raise funds for the family during Harrison's treatment at Starship Hospital late last year, says losing a family member is devastating and the emotion hits close to home as the Omanu club is 'all about family”.

Omanu clubbie and independent MP Brendan Horan remembers Harrison as a 'lovely young man”.

Brendan, who lost an older brother when he was 12-years-old, says his heart goes out to the Mundy family in their time of need and the challenge they have now of moving forward.

'When this happens without warning it reminds us about our own mortality,” says Brendan.

'It's just so hard to say, words just cannot express the emotion and aroha [love] that we all feel for the Mundy family.”

A total of 825 competitors aged 10 to 14-years-old are taking part in a four-day carnival at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach.