Sean Reilly is Hawaiʻi’s most dedicated skateboarder. Not only that, for decades he’s documented the inter-island scene with his films, which have earned him a cult following on O‘ahu and beyond. Odds are, if your favorite pro has ever visited Honolulu, Bedpan was the tour guide. As was common pre-cell phone, he’s got a leather-bound spot book, showcasing the best, and crustiest, spots that may, or may not be, skateable on the island.

On top of all of that, he’s the nicest guy you will ever meet. Respectful, welcoming, and generous, he’s a true steward of the aloha spirit. In recent years, he has been at home in Kailua, on the eastern shores of O‘ahu, supporting both of his elderly parents. When not being a full-time caretaker, he works a full-time job as a landscaper.

Earlier this year, I was gutted to find out that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. An autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, this condition breaks down the protective covering of nerves. More commonly referred to as “MS,” it can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking, vision changes, and other symptoms. For someone that is as active as Sean, and skates as hard as he does at 45 years of age, the news broke my heart.

Despite the diagnosis, he is carrying on, business as usual. He’s had some spills, both skating (often barefoot these days) and walking the dog around the neighborhood. At one point recently he broke his toe from a recent slam and needed a cast — I’m sure he was willing to push a lawnmower anyways. He has never been scared of taking his lumps, so naturally he’s not letting any of this phase him. Hero-type behavior.

Since I’ve been riding my bike a lot recently, usually with my dear friend Adrian Adrid, we both agreed that we should do a ride to raise some funds for Sean. There was a period when Sean lived in San Diego, where in true Bedpan fashion, he assimilated right into the scene. With SD being roughly 130 miles from Los Angeles, Adrian and I thought that could be a feasible weekend getaway. We want to ride there on a Friday, spend Saturday skating some of Sean’s old haunts, and ride back on Sunday. 260ish miles (and a skate clip or two) in 72 hours. We’ll bring tents and sleep where we can.

If you want to chip in, 100% of what we raise will be sent directly to Sean to help him with whatever medical bills he has these days. As healthcare is currently on the federal chopping block, I want to make this trip happen more than ever. If you can’t support financially, please share this GoFundMe with your network. The more, the merrier.

Long Live Bedpan!