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The Long Way Home
Bruce Hopkins on the Te Araroa Trail - Taking The Long Way Home for GRG
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  Lynette Nielsen (Southland GRG Support Coordinator with Bruce and TA trail founder Geoff Chapple at Bluff |
Well known to many as ‘Gamling’ of Lord of the Rings fame; in his 60’s, Bruce Hopkins is also a proud grandfather of three, a role which fills him with profound joy. This sense of enjoyment led him to want to help grandparents around NZ who are thrown back into the full time parental role, usually due to a traumatic or unexpected event or family breakdown. His incredible journey ‘The Long Way Home’ commenced at Cape Reinga on 14 October 2017 and took seven tough and grueling months as he traversed some of our country’s most difficult terrain and high mountain passes. In spite of near death experiences and some serious events affecting his physical health with injuries also sustained on the journey and a previously undiagnosed illness requiring surgery part the way through; Bruce defied the odds completing his incredible journey at Stirling Point at Bluff on 8 May 2018. Over this period, Bruce advocated for grandparents raising grandchildren, highlighting the issues and challenges they face in numerous media appearances and raised over $30,000 to support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ through his Givealittle page and this website. During his journey, Bruce also recorded radio Podcasts for Radio NZ. For more on his journey, see his Facebook page. Our newsletters summarising each stage of his journey can also be found here:
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 Kate Bundle (GRG CEO) and Bruce Hopkins |
On 30 June 2018, in recognition of his work as a GRG ambassador, raising awareness and funds for our work, we were delighted to appoint Bruce as an Honorary Life Member of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ On behalf of us all at GRG, thank you Bruce. You're a legend! |
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