Every birthday, Bruce Hopkins does something extraordinary: he flips into the sea — once for every year of his life — to raise funds and awareness for grandparents raising grandchildren.
What started as a fun way to end an ocean swim has become a heartfelt tradition. According to a feature in Now To Love, Bruce says he loves “that moment when you’re in the air rotating backwards!” and vows to “keep doing it as long as my body holds out.” Now to Love - New Zealand
His birthday-backflips aren’t just stunts — they’re for a cause close to his heart. GRG supports grandparents and caregivers who have stepped in to raise their grandchildren, often under difficult circumstances. It’s something Bruce understands deeply: one of his own siblings is raising a grandchild.
Over the years, Bruce has turned physical challenges into tangible help. In 2018, he walked the entire Te Araroa Trail — about 3,000 km — and raised funds for GRG.
Now, as he celebrates 70 years, the plan was simple: 70 somersaults for 70 years. On November 29th, he headed down to Auckland's Wynward Quarter where he completed 70 backflips on a stunning Auckland day. Check out the video here of him completing all 70 of them!
GRG are honoured that Bruce continues this tradition in raising funds and awareness of what we do. Thank you, Bruce!
If you’d like to read more about Bruce and his journey, check this article: Why Lord Of The Rings star Bruce Hopkins jumps for charity
If you'd like to donate to GRG in honor of Bruce's somersaults, you can head to our giving page by clicking this link
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