HISTORY MADE… Nedd Brockmann (23) from Forbes grabbed the headlines this week when he finished an incredible feat running 3,952km in 47 days to raise money for homelessness. Thousands welcomed him at Bondi Beach on Monday. (photo: Sky News Australia)
It is the story we were all longing to hear, and the fact that the hero is a sparkie from Forbes made it so much more inspirational.
Nedd Brockman took our spirit on his superhuman challenge and we soared above the daily grind of floods and rising costs to believe in kindness, generosity and perseverance again as he battled through almost 100km per day for 47 days.
He grabbed the attention of the whole country as he made his way from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to the finish at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Monday where thousands of supporters gave him a rapturous welcome breaking the tape after 3,952km and raising over $1.8 million for homelessness.
“I am absolutely blown away,” he said. “I don’t think I can explain the depths I’ve had to go to. To have all this support is absolutely mind-blowing. I am speechless,” he said before doing a celebratory shoey.
His incredible run has been named one of the greatest athletic feats in Australian history, and many call for Nedd to be named Australian of the Year.
In Forbes Nedd has gained a huge fan base with several fundraising efforts in the community to support him. His former primary school, Bedgerabong Public School, followed him every step of the way and raised $770. On Monday students at St Laurence’s Parish School held a Hats for Homelessness fundraiser and raised $522.20, while the Forbes Community Hub came together last Friday and sold egg and bacon rolls raising $2,620, to name but some of the local support.
The good news for local fans is that a welcome is being planned for the local hero with details to be announced soon.