KEY POINTS:
Haemophiliac Jack Finn has a bloody good attitude when it comes to challenging himself and inspiring others.
The 24-year-old is set to travel sub-Antarctic waters today in a bid to be the first person with haemophilia to kayak around the inhospitable Auckland Islands.
Haemophilia is a rare blood
disorder caused by a lack of a protein responsible for clotting in the blood. Without this protein an affected person's blood cannot form a clot and stop bleeding on its own.
Mr Finn, from West Auckland, is attempting his "Bloody Can Do It" expedition in a bid to raise awareness of his disease, as well as inspiring others to follow their dreams.
But yesterday he admitted to a few butterflies in his stomach.
"I'm feeling a tad nervous. I'm also feeling really excited in terms of finally being able to go ahead with the trip after well over a year's worth of planning and getting together support and sponsorship.
"It's just game on - let's go," he said. Mr Finn was in Invercargill loading the support boat, the Tiama, that will take him and his mother 465km south of New Zealand to the islands.
A specialised haemophilia medic and a Department of Conservation officer will also be joining him.
"Where I'm going is an absolute mecca in terms of wildlife. The protected marine area, it's got some incredible weather," he said.
He said he was under no illusion as to how tough the trip was going to be.
"We'll just take each day as it comes in terms of the weather, and there'll be as minimal amount of risk as possible."
Mr Finn, who also contracted hepatitis C through infected medication, said the trip was a personal challenge.
"It's all about getting out of your comfort zone. Too much of society is not pushing the boundaries, not getting out there and getting amongst it."
It would take about 2 1/2 days to reach the islands and two weeks, depending on the weather, to navigate the islands.
"It is renowned for some fairly grunty storms and big sea conditions and some quite heavy weather," Mr Finn said.
The Auckland Islands have one of the bleakest climates on the planet, with an average of 27 days of rain per month and average temperature of 6C.
Mr Finn said he hoped to be kayaking past sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins, through fiords, over a number of shipwrecks and alongside cliffs that rise hundreds of metres above sea level.
Not a stranger to adventure, three years ago Mr Finn was the first person with haemophilia to bike and sea kayak the length of New Zealand, including solo kayak crossings of Cook Strait and Lake Taupo.
- NZPA
