bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Mike Chan

Former Hong Kong resident Thorsten Bruce fell in love with Nepal when he first visited with his wife in 1999, but he had no idea he would one day hatch an ambitious idea to help the South Asian country.
Bruce, 51, will soon embark on a journey that he hopes will prove to be a life-changing experience not just for him, but for many others.
The Englishman, who lived in Hong Kong from 1996 to 2016, is gearing up for an 8,158-mile (13,129km) charity bicycle ride from his home in the UK to the Himalayas.
Bruce aims to raise HK$50,000 (US$6,400) for the Rainbow Children Home Nepal (RCH), a charity dedicated to giving poor and orphaned children “the education and hope they deserve”.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by 🚵‍♂️Cycling Harrogate 2the Himalayas (@thorstenbruce.adventurer.coach)



“My family has been supporting them since 2009,” he said. “Our two sons [Dan and Fin] helped with fundraising for RCH even before we made a family trip in December 2015, when we visited the orphanage.
“RCH is a grass-roots charity whose funds go directly to [the children] without having to pay any middlemen. RCH will be the final destination of my ride.”
The charity cares directly for 27 children and supports another 42 who live with their families. It costs about HK$620 to care for each child per month.
“That covers food, clothing, lodging and educational costs … a little bit goes a long way in Nepal,” Bruce said.
Traversing 19 countries, Bruce expects his eight-month journey, which starts on March 1, to run into the first half of October.
He will then enjoy a break with his family in Nepal before going home for his younger son’s 21st birthday in November.
Another beneficiary of the ride will be mental health charity YoungMinds in England. “Charity begins at home,” Bruce, from Liverpool, said. “I’ve got two sons. I know the struggles the next generations are facing.”
Bruce’s largely solo ride – he will be joined on a few legs by friends and his wife, Emma – will leave from Harrogate in Yorkshire and pass through Europe, Turkey and Central Asia. He will carry clothes, a tent, a sleeping bag, a camping stove, food and water.
The Everton supporter’s previous riding experience comes from a couple of tours in Thailand, and a journey from Yorkshire to Devon last year. And only a week at a time – “never anything crazily big”.
“The Pamir and Karakoram Highways will be the most difficult parts of my ride because there will be a huge amount of climbing,” he said. “The total overall elevation gain will be equivalent to summiting Everest from sea level 24 times.”
The idea for the long journey to Nepal first cropped up two years ago when a good friend at work died suddenly of a heart attack, aged 56.
“I began to question what I wanted to do with my life,” Bruce said.
“I’m passionate about being outdoors, travel, exercise, mountains, the people of Nepal, visiting friends and giving back. So it was just a case of combining my passions into the adventure of a lifetime and doing something meaningful for charity.”
When in Hong Kong, Bruce got into trail running, taking part in local races such as Trailwalker, King of the Hills, Action Asia and HK100.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by 🚵‍♂️Cycling Harrogate 2the Himalayas (@thorstenbruce.adventurer.coach)



“My physical shape is OK, I am still young enough,” Bruce said. “I have an extremely supportive wife, and my two sons are now at university, so we are empty-nesters – even our dog passed away last year.
“And I was recently made redundant [from a job in the medical-device industry] – I planned to leave anyway to do this ride. So this is a terrific window of opportunity.
“I believe that without a vision, people perish – so my bike ride is dedicated to helping young people and making a real difference in their lives.”


Black carbon: the super pollutant melting Asia’s glaciers

Philippines pulls back on nuclear pact push, hinting at limits to its diplomatic reach

Bhutan’s life sentences for political prisoners violate international law, UN says

Man’s best friend celebrates Holi, the festival of colours

Nepal

Former Hong Kong resident to ride from England to Nepal to raise money for charity

Thorsten Bruce, who lived in Hong Kong from 1996 to 2016, will start his eight-month trek to Nepal on March 1. Photo: Thorsten Bruce

How Hong Kong marathon runner’s goals have come full circle after racing world’s 6 majors

Catherine Lau (front row, second), a lawyer and avid runner who completed the Six World Marathon Majors, running at the Jockey Club Fit City fundraising programme. Photo: Edmond So

Catherine Lau (second left), a Hong Kong lawyer and avid runner whose participation in the Tokyo Marathon in 2024 completed the Six World Marathon Majors, runs at a Jockey Club Fit City fundraising event. Photo: Edmond So

In January 2015, Lau competed in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon and finished the race in three hours 23 minutes, her personal best time. Photo: courtesy of Catherine Lau

After finishing the Tokyo Marathon in March 2024, Lau became a six-star finisher, a title given to those who complete the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. Photo: courtesy of Catherine Lau

Lau ran the Boston Marathon in April 2015, having qualified for the race with her Hong Kong Marathon time of three hours and 28 minutes in February 2014. She describes her experience as “unforgettable”, owing to the rainy and cold weather. Photo: courtesy of Catherine Lau

After her first attempt to compete in the New York Marathon was thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Lau managed to run the race in 2023. She finished in four hours and 37 minutes. Photo: courtesy of Catherine Lau

After competing in the Berlin Marathon, Lau ran marathons in Paris and Zurich before taking a break from competitive running. Photo: courtesy of Catherine Lau

Lau received her six-star medal in 2024, after she completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors. Photo: Catherine Lau

Catherine Lau and her nephew Lau Yik-hei, who is a member of the Hong Kong triathlon national squad. Photo: Edmond So

Asian Winter Games: China unearths new aerials star, Hong Kong’s Yung shines in men’s slalom

Hong Kong’s skiers, Adrian Yung, Lucas Wong and Lu Kin-pok, put in an impressive performance in the men’s slalom at Yabuli Ski Resort during the ninth Asian Winter Games. Photo: SF&OC

Li Xinpeng competes during the men’s freestyle skiing men’s aerials. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Other Sport

Thorsten Bruce hopes his 13,000km trip will prove life-changing not just for him but for a children’s home in the Himalayas


Thorsten Bruce hopes his 13,000km trip will prove life-changing not just for him but for a children’s home in the Himalayas.
