Fifteen years ago the California man was diagnosed with multiple myeloma — an inoperable blood cancer which affects white blood cells in bone marrow.
Myeloma is the second-most common blood cancer in New Zealand — 3000 New Zealanders are living with it.
It attacks the body in a variety of ways, but for Mr Sninsky it affected his blood and bones.
He was told he had three to four years to live.
His world changed with the diagnosis. Part of the bones in his spine crumbled, causing him to shrink from 1.8m tall to 1.67m in a year.
It was a tough blow for the fit and active man who had worked in the adventure business in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
He has since been through 15 bouts of radiation, eight months of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Since his diagnosis, he has been on a mission to bring hope to people living with myeloma, biking around the world, including across the United States and Europe twice, to raise money for research and awareness of the disease.
His latest challenge is tackling New Zealand with the aim of inspiring New Zealanders living with the disease.
"March is Myeloma Action month so my action is to do these bike rides to make people aware. The key for me is hope."
For Wānaka man Barry Johnston, hope is crucial.
The retired businessman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December and connected with Mr Sninsky through the International Myeloma Foundation.
He has been hosting Mr Sninsky, riding with him throughout the region.
He was yet to go through some of the treatments Mr Sninsky had already experienced, but being able to get out and ride together had been encouraging.
"He’s my inspiration I need positive people around me.
"Quality of life is what were trying to get out of the different treatments that we get ... We just have to take every opportunity we can because you don’t know how long we’ve got."
