Earlier this year, our very own Bryce Casey wrote a children’s book to raise money for I Am Hope’s Gumboot Friday - and today, we can officially unveil the total amount raised.
The book, titled Tummy Rumble in the Jungle, features Roger the Rat, Bryce the Beaver, Mel the Magpie and Mully the Moose; four farting friends that live in the jungle together, with all proceeds of the $20 book going straight to Gumboot Friday.
We’re beyond stoked to let you know that the official total amount raised was $346,075.76 - and that’s all thanks to every single Rock listener who purchased a copy, or paid it forward to a community in need.
Tummy Rumble in the Jungle went on sale early March, and was available to buy for a window of three and a half weeks - Rock listeners from Kaitaia to Bluff to everywhere in between got amongst it.
A special mention to our listeners in the UK and Aussie who purchased a copy, and both Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and National party leader Chris Luxon who got their hands on some copies in support of the cause, too.
During the selling period, a total of 21,085 copies were purchased by a total of 15,291 great Rock listeners, making the book an unofficial bestseller. 4,889 of those copies were gifted to the Kiwi Christmas Books initiative, where they’ll be distributed to tamariki and rangatahi whose families can’t afford to buy their own.
The Morning Rumble chatted to Mike King, the face of I Am Hope, on the phone this morning (July 31) to unveil the official total amount raised.
“I just can’t say enough about Rock listeners, man. You’re just a different breed,” King said.
King revealed that the money raised will go towards a total of 2,307 free counselling sessions for young Kiwis who need it. Pretty bloody incredible.
He later added, “Bryce and the team's mahi for Gumboot Friday over the years has literally moved me to tears. This is a ‘cause I’m relentlessly passionate about, and having the ongoing support of The Rock’s Morning Rumble and their listener whānau is incredible.
“The $346,075.76 raised by Bryce with his book means that we will be able to fund over 2,307 more sessions of free counselling for at-risk youth. It’s literally going to save lives.”
During the call with Mike King, Bryce explained that we approached various book companies to help us distribute the book, but we were turned down for a number of reasons. Luckily, this ended up working out in our favour, as it meant more money raised went directly to I Am Hope.
Bryce, and everyone here at The Rock, couldn’t be more proud of you, The Rock listener for continuing to support Gumboot Friday.
Bryce said, “I’m just super proud of our listeners. Time and time again, Rock listeners get in behind our efforts for Gumboot Friday, it clearly means as much to them as it does to us.
He continued, “I thought and hoped it would go well, but this figure is amazing, it will genuinely help a lot of Kiwis and I love that.”
Once again, thank you so much to everyone who purchased a copy. Thanks to you, so many young Kiwis will be able to access the mental health support that they deserve to have access to.
