Mr van Wichen (45), a pilot for Air National who lives in Nelson but was raised in Queenstown, is organising the 21-day road-bike trip as a fundraiser for Ranui House, of the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust in Christchurch, to support Mr Cochrane.
"I wanted to do something for him and while I can't live the cancer for him, I am organising a fundraiser to support him . . . through this time."
Mr van Wichen, who will start his trip on December 19, hopes to raise $11,000 for Rainui House.
To do that, he needs at least 500 people to support him at "one cent per kilometre or a total of $22 per person".
Rainui House provided accommodation at no cost for people having significant medical treatment, and Mr Cochrane had chosen the charity because of the "wonderful support" he received during his cancer treatment, after his diagnosis about three years ago.
For Mr van Wichen, it will be a huge challenge, particularly as he has never completed any serious long-distance road-bike courses before.
"I got into mountain biking once I moved to Nelson in 2000, off and on. I did the Rainbow Rage a few times, but this is something a little bit more. I'm a bit afraid of it, but I can do it, I think."
Having a mountain bike in his shed gave him the initial idea, but after putting slick tyres on it, he found it was too slow. A conversation with a colleague led to a swap: Mr van Wichen handed over his kayak for his colleague's road bike.
"That worked really well. I'm averaging 27kmh, which is not really a great average, but for somebody who's a bit older and hasn't really done this before . . . I think it's OK."
Mr van Wichen's wife Jude will be travelling with him as support crew, driving the campervan in which the pair will sleep each night to their destinations.
She may also cycle back to meet her husband and accompany him on the final stage of each leg. However, anyone who wanted to ride with Mr van Wichen - even if it was just for 30 minutes - would be welcome, he said.
The website for his trip would contain all the accommodation options, with meeting points also provided.
While the thought of spending the best part of 21 days on the seat of a road bike may seem overwhelming, it was a small thing to do to support "the type of guy that would do anything for anybody", Mr van Wichen said.
"He's a salt-of-the-Earth kind of guy and I'm just grateful for his friendship."
Mr van Wichen said Mr Cochrane had a "fantastic wife" and the couple had "been a really great support for the fundraising".
• To make a pledge for the fundraiser, to see the itinerary or to join Mr van Wichen on part of his bike trip, visit www.n2end.co.nz
