The Gurkha Welfare Trust Dean Hanley
The Gurkha Burhos page
Fundraising for Oxfam GB
Story
Firstly, thank you for taking time to read our JustGiving page.
**UPDATE 18 JULY 2010- WE FINISHED**
The Gurkha Bhuros completed the entire 100km course, a 62.2 mile journey, in 25 hrs 30 min. It was an honour to be a part of this magnificent event and share in the experience with so many other fabulous Trailwalkers.
Our many thanks to all of our generous donors. Your encouragement and kindness made all the difference. Jai Gurkha Bhuros!
Update 6 July 2010:
Thank you to Brigade Week Command Group who raised nearly £100 for the Gurkha Burhos during Brigade Week.
Our story
We are privileged to have served in the British Army, and in particular with Gurkha soldiers, and we have supported The Gurkha Welfare Trust throughout our careers. Our men have been much in the news in this last year, be it over immigration matters or operational service in Afghanistan, and no one should be in any doubt as to the huge debt of honour we, as a nation, owe these magnificent warriors – fearless in war, strong in adversity, and the staunchest and most loyal of friends.
We four have joined together as “The Gurkha Burhos” (the old Gurkha men!) not just to help raise funds for the leading Gurkha charity, but also to affirm that the trust our soldiers placed in us while serving together continues for all our lives, and that we remain determined to help any of them that may need support, at anytime and anywhere. We will compete together on Trailwalker 2010, a very hard 100 km team challenge across the South Downs that must be completed in less than 30 hrs.
This annual charity event takes place on 16/17 July and is organised by Queens Gurkha Signals and Oxfam, and is a real challenge for fit and strong young people, let alone us somewhat more mature fellows – we will suffer, but for the most worthy cause.
Gurkha soldiers have fought for – and died for - our nation since 1815. We can never repay the debt of honour we owe these most wonderful people, but we can make the lives of our retired soldiers a little easier and we can help them to live out their lives in safety and comfort.
Team Members: William Shuttlewood William is 60 and served in 2nd Goorkhas until he became Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas. He is now Director of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. John Anderson John 64, served in 6th Gurkha Rifles until retirement in 2000, and is now a Trustee of the Gurkha Welfare Trust and Chairman of the Gurkha Brigade Association, as well as a trustee of several other Gurkha charities Ruadhri Duncan Ruadhri (Rory) served in the Grenadier Guards for nine years before leaving the Army for a career in the City. A charity fund manager at Newton Investment Management, Ruadhri nurtures the reserve portfolio funds of a wide range of charities, including the GWT’s reserves. Ian Rigden Ian first came across Gurkhas in Singapore when he was a boy aged 7 he decided he was going to join the Brigade. He counts himself extremely fortunate that his dream has come true. He has spent 30 years in the Army this year and nearly all of it with the Brigade as both a 2nd Goorkha and an RGR officer. Most of this time has been spent at Regimental duty and he commanded 2RGR in Brunei and Afghanistan. He is no stranger to fundraising for the GWT having done Trailwalker 3 times (87 and 89 in Hong Kong and 2003 in UK with his wife Zoe).
The Gurkha Welfare Trust The Gurkha Welfare Trust was founded in 1969 to relieve poverty and distress amongst ex-members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their dependants. The Trust’s core activity is the provision of a monthly welfare pension to Gurkhas in Nepal who have no other form of income and face destitution. Most of these old soldiers, or their widows, are World War Two veterans. The Trust also provides a comprehensive community aid programme that improves the wellbeing of our old soldiers and shares the benefits with the entire village. Funds raised for the Trust by Trailwalker will support the provision of water and sanitation facilities in Gurkha villages. Last year, 80 Gurkha villages and some 19,000 people benefited from these efforts. Make your donation now and help repay our debt of honour to the gallant, fighting men of Nepal, the Gurkhas. Funds raised by Trailwalker support the work of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam UK.
Team Members: William Shuttlewood William is 60 and served in 2nd Goorkhas until he became Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas. He is now Director of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. John Anderson John 64, served in 6th Gurkha Rifles until retirement in 2000, and is now a Trustee of the Gurkha Welfare Trust and Chairman of the Gurkha Brigade Association, as well as a trustee of several other Gurkha charities Ruadhri Duncan Ruadhri (Rory) served in the Grenadier Guards for nine years before leaving the Army for a career in the City. A charity fund manager at Newton Investment Management, Ruadhri nurtures the reserve portfolio funds of a wide range of charities, including the GWT’s reserves. Ian Rigden Ian first came across Gurkhas in Singapore when he was a boy aged 7 he decided he was going to join the Brigade. He counts himself extremely fortunate that his dream has come true. He has spent 30 years in the Army this year and nearly all of it with the Brigade as both a 2nd Goorkha and an RGR officer. Most of this time has been spent at Regimental duty and he commanded 2RGR in Brunei and Afghanistan. He is no stranger to fundraising for the GWT having done Trailwalker 3 times (87 and 89 in Hong Kong and 2003 in UK with his wife Zoe).
The Gurkha Welfare Trust The Gurkha Welfare Trust was founded in 1969 to relieve poverty and distress amongst ex-members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their dependants. The Trust’s core activity is the provision of a monthly welfare pension to Gurkhas in Nepal who have no other form of income and face destitution. Most of these old soldiers, or their widows, are World War Two veterans. The Trust also provides a comprehensive community aid programme that improves the wellbeing of our old soldiers and shares the benefits with the entire village. Funds raised for the Trust by Trailwalker will support the provision of water and sanitation facilities in Gurkha villages. Last year, 80 Gurkha villages and some 19,000 people benefited from these efforts. Make your donation now and help repay our debt of honour to the gallant, fighting men of Nepal, the Gurkhas. Funds raised by Trailwalker support the work of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam UK.