Rick Hopcroft isn't sure what he's let himself in for.
Rick, the Red Cross training co-ordinator for the Bay of Plenty, will take part in Seeking Sanctuary in November, a Red Cross-organised experience designed to give people a small insight into the life of a refugee.
While Rick knows the event will take place in Auckland on November 7 and 8, he knows little else for certain - and that's just how organisers want it.
He may have to cross a patrolled border, escape a conflict zone and survive the night with few supplies and just a basic shelter.
"I am expecting it to be a gruelling and stressful environment," he says. "But I am comfortable with it. I've worked in outdoor education and done survival training. I am more worried about fundraising and getting people behind me. I want people to have an idea of why I am doing it."
The challenge is over 17 hours, as a symbolic representation of the 17 years that is the average time a refugee spends in a camp.
Rick is dedicating his pilgrimage to his nana, Vera.
Her family left Yugoslavia during unrest, heading for New Zealand.
"Our village of Podgora in Croatia, which borders Bosnia and Herzegovina, has seen its share of conflict and there has been high internal displacement as well as international refugees, including that of my father's family."
Rick was born in New Zealand and visited Croatia five or six years ago. There he saw evidence of unrest in the region.
"It gave me more of a realisation about why my father's family left. It was a conflict that went on for generations."
Nearly two years ago the Red Cross joined with Refugee Services Aotearoa to become the country's primary refugee resettlement agency.
"I started seeing a lot more information and met refugees who were being resettled in New Zealand.
The story of the Afghan interpreters coming over - they have had an amazing journey that has gone on for years and years."
Rick will be going one step further than just attending the simulation - he will leave home with only a cardboard sign and the clothes on his back.
"I will then endeavour to make my way to Auckland and the refugee camp."
His goal is to raise $2000. As well as raising money, Rick says he would like to see more Tauranga people take on the challenge.
"It might be something that would appeal to a cultural group who might know of refugees coming into New Zealand."
See www.seekingsanctuary.org.nz to find out more or donate money. Every dollar raised will go to the Red Cross.
FAST FACTS
- Only one per cent of refugees get resettled in a new country
- Only six per cent return to their homes.
- Just $3000 could pay for required pre-deployment training for a New Zealand Red Cross aid worker.
- Only $1000 could pay for a rehabilitation clinic for landmine victims.
- A support pack for refugees in New Zealand costs $500.
- An emergency all-weather tent costs $350.
- Five emergency tarpaulins could be bought for $100.
- Just $50 could buy five jerry cans to carry water.