The impact of witnessing the levels of destruction to the country whilst volunteering in Kathmandu last summer made us realise how much the people have lost, and how much still needs to be done - inspiring us to contribute further in any way possible.  In August we will be cycling 80 miles from London to Folkestone on the Kentish coast, then kayak 26 miles of the Channel to Boulogne, and cycle the remaining 160 miles to Paris in an effort to raise money for the Gurkha Welfare Earthquake response fund.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust is a UK based charity with 46 years of experience working on the ground in Nepal. It consists of 22 welfare centres and 350 experienced and dedicated members of staff, providing aid to retired veterans, their families and extended Nepalese communities. 

The earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015 may seem distant, but despite media attention moving on, the need for aid to the country is as necessary as ever. With around half a million houses demolished, thousands of Nepalese families are enduring the freezing winter in tents and makeshift shelters nine months after their homes were destroyed in Nepal's massive earthquake. 

Entire villages in areas that traditionally provided the backbone of the renowned Gurkha brigade were flattened by April’s quake and a crippling trade blockade has since slowed efforts to rebuild.The 7.8 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks destroyed the homes of 1,129 veterans or their widows and badly damaged the homes of another 1,000.

This is reflective of the hardship that the majority of the country is facing. With 2.8 million people displaced from their homes and over a million in critical need of food, the necessity for helping a vast majority of the population has never been greater. 

We hope this challenge will raise awareness and help for the kind people of Nepal. Thank you for taking the time to visit our page - any donations would be greatly appreciated. 

All the best,

Charlie and James