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Bruce Hopkins Walks The Long Way Home for GRG

  • He did it! Bruce nails the Te Araroa Trail

      31 May 2018
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    Earlier this month, Bruce took the final steps of the Te Araroa Trail to the famous sign at Stirling Point at Bluff, ate some yummy chocolate cake baked by trail founder Geoff Chappell’s wife Miriam and savoured some cool bubbles picked up en-route to meet Bruce, by our Southland Support Coordinator, Lynette Nielsen.

    The enormity of his journey, the stories he’s told/been told, the people he has met (including a number of our grandparent care families along the way), the injuries and near death experiences he’s endured and the personal reflections on life after walking 3000 km in all extremes of weather; are all now sinking in for Bruce as he gets used to normal life again.

    We are delighted and most grateful to see that donations continue to come into this Givealittle page, and to date over $24,000 has been raised for GRG via the page and our website. On behalf of us all, thank you Bruce—now get some much needed rest and relaxation. You deserve it!

    Donations to this page expire today. But if you would like to make a donation to GRG, please go to our main Givealittle page at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/grg to make a donation or to our website at www.grg.org.nz.

    To follow the last leg of Bruce’s journey raising awareness and funds for GRG along the way, or to listen to his podcasts on Radio NZ please go to:

    Facebook.com/BruceHopkinsTeAraroa

    Radionz.co.nz/tags/Bruce%20Hopkins

    Many thanks to you all from the GRG team!

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  • Countdown is on to Invercargill and Bluff

      25 April 2018
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    Like “John of the Mountains”* our hero Te Araroa trailblazer, raconteur, and veritable hard-man born of the south of the South; Bruce Hopkins has become as one with the mountains of the Southern Alps in recent weeks” as the Scottish-American poet and conservationist, John Muir himself.

    In some “live” Facebook video posts he’s even morphed into wolf-man, albeit with the help of a bit of digital tech!

    If you have been following his journey via Facebook, Radio NZ podcast or snippets here and there in the media, you will know that the countdown is now on for his final leg of the trail to Invercargill and Bluff after what has been a staggering journey of determination, will, near death experiences, days trudging in deep snow—balanced by sheer wonder at the beauty of our country.

    At the same time Bruce has had his sights firmly on raising funds for GRG to support our 4,000+ member families nationwide through our support services, and for that we are deeply grateful for his efforts highlighting our cause and to all the wonderful people who have donated to our cause. Thank you a million!

    At this stage, Bruce is aiming to be in Invercargill around 10 May and is looking forward to a cool glass of bubbly to celebrate his journey of 3,000km the length of this beautiful country of ours. He then aims to join family and friends over on Stewart Island - the island of his birth.

    We will keep you posted here again soon. In the meantime we encourage you to share his amazing story with friends and family and the link to donate to our cause here.

    Go well Bruce!

    " Oh, these vast, calm,

    measureless mountain days,

    inciting at once to

    work and rest!

    Days in whose light everything

    seems equally divine,

    opening a thousand windows

    to show us God.

    Nevermore, however weary,

    should one faint by the way

    who gains the blessings of

    one mountain day;

    whatever his fate,

    long life, short life,

    stormy or calm,

    he is rich forever."

    - John Muir*

    *Thank you to Bernadette Barnes for her post on Bruce's Facebook page with this wonderful poem above which is so apt!

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  • Bruce knocks off the North Island!

      22 February 2018
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    Our inspiring walker, raconteur and honorary GRG ambassador, Bruce Hopkins, has now completed 1,700km of his 3,000km journey on the Te Araroa Trail to Stewart Island.

    And what an incredible journey it has been to date. If you are following Bruce on Facebook.com/BruceHopkinsTeAraroa or via his Radio New Zealand podcasts at http://www.radionz.co.nz/tags/Bruce%20Hopkins, you will have some idea of the magnitude of the challenges he has faced to date.

    Bruce was hoping to complete the trail before the end of March 2018, but due to a few unforeseen set-backs and health concerns, in late February he will be heading to the South Island's hinterland for the next couple of months with a goal to complete the trail before the end of April all going to plan.

    For this reason we are extending this Givealittle page until 31 May 2018.

    To read all about his journey to date, please read our February 2018 newsletter at:

    https://www.grg.org.nz/Newsletter.html

    Please share our newsletter with your networks and encourage them to get on board to support Bruce in his challenging journey ahead on the South Island's Te Araroa Trail.

    On behalf of Bruce and all of us at Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ and our families, our sincere gratitude to all the wonderful donors who have supported Bruce and GRG to date. We are deeply humbled.

    With best wishes and thanks to all from the GRG team!

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