Support needed for Gurkha walk

More daring trekkers are wanted for an original Gurkha endurance challenge in support of the Nepal relief effort.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2015, 17:15 BST
A TEAM of walkers who strode 100km along the South Downs Way in just under 23 hours are celebrating raising £2,300 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Nicola Williams, of Park Lane, Eastbourne, joined Annette Feakes, Sarah Hatherly and Tracy Owen, in a team called the Decade Dames, to complete the Trailwalker Challenge in July. They had to walk the 100km in less than 30 hours but finished in 22 hours 40 minutes, coming fifth in the ladies teams, and beating their fundraising taget of £1,500. Of the 540 teams who began the challenge, only just after half were able to cross the finishing line. The team wished to thank their support crew who kept them supplied and encouraged and rewarded them with a bottle of champagne at the end. Their next challenge will be next May when they tackle the Yorkshire Moors for Oxfam fundraiser Trailtrekker. ENGPPP00720130406151036A TEAM of walkers who strode 100km along the South Downs Way in just under 23 hours are celebrating raising £2,300 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Nicola Williams, of Park Lane, Eastbourne, joined Annette Feakes, Sarah Hatherly and Tracy Owen, in a team called the Decade Dames, to complete the Trailwalker Challenge in July. They had to walk the 100km in less than 30 hours but finished in 22 hours 40 minutes, coming fifth in the ladies teams, and beating their fundraising taget of £1,500. Of the 540 teams who began the challenge, only just after half were able to cross the finishing line. The team wished to thank their support crew who kept them supplied and encouraged and rewarded them with a bottle of champagne at the end. Their next challenge will be next May when they tackle the Yorkshire Moors for Oxfam fundraiser Trailtrekker. ENGPPP00720130406151036
A TEAM of walkers who strode 100km along the South Downs Way in just under 23 hours are celebrating raising £2,300 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Nicola Williams, of Park Lane, Eastbourne, joined Annette Feakes, Sarah Hatherly and Tracy Owen, in a team called the Decade Dames, to complete the Trailwalker Challenge in July. They had to walk the 100km in less than 30 hours but finished in 22 hours 40 minutes, coming fifth in the ladies teams, and beating their fundraising taget of £1,500. Of the 540 teams who began the challenge, only just after half were able to cross the finishing line. The team wished to thank their support crew who kept them supplied and encouraged and rewarded them with a bottle of champagne at the end. Their next challenge will be next May when they tackle the Yorkshire Moors for Oxfam fundraiser Trailtrekker. ENGPPP00720130406151036

Thousands of people are to walk 100km through the South Downs National Park on July 25 to 26 to raise life saving funds for Oxfam and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Oxfam Trailwalker organiser, Louise Gebbett, said: “I want to thank all those who have committed so far to take on the 100km trek, and who have already raised over 250,000 to support the relief work in Nepal.

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“Many signed up since the earthquake struck. Now we welcome even more brave participants who can help us and The Gurkha Welfare Trust raise as much as possible for the people of Nepal.”

Originally a Gurkha training exercise, now Trailwalker sees ordinary people trekking day and night across the beautiful South Downs National Park, starting in Petersfield and ending in Brighton.

Participants are joined by Gurkha teams from four regiments, and they are yet to be beaten.

The course record sits at an incredible nine hours and 50 minutes, but the average public finishing time is a more realistic 27 hours.

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During Trailwalker Gurkha soldiers will be across the course, delivering the logistics of the event.

The Gurkhas from Nepal, have seen widespread destruction to their Nepalese communities as a result of the recent earthquake.

Oxfam and The Gurkha Welfare Trust are both on the ground assisting in the humanitarian effort by providing water, sanitation, shelter and community support.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established in 1969 to relieve hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen and their dependants. It remains the leading Gurkha welfare charity, working primarily in Nepal.

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Captain Matt Bennett of the 250 Gurkhas Signals Squadron, said: “2015 is a huge year for Trailwalker.

“Not only are we celebrating the 200th anniversary of Gurkhas servicing to the British Crown, but we are also raising vital funds to assist with the humanitarian situation in Nepal, and those most in need elsewhere”.

Captain Bennett added: “We are so grateful to all those taking part. Trailwalker is a huge test of mental and physical endurance, and a once in a lifetime challenge.”

Entries are still open for the 2015 event. To sign up or for more information, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker

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