With your support, The Gurkha Welfare Trust ensures that Gurkha veterans, their widows and their wider communities are able to live with dignity in Nepal, through the provision of financial, medical and community aid.

In June I will be participating in the Doko Race, a 5km run similar to the Doko Race undertaken by Gurkha recruits in Nepal. Next September I will be starting my officer training at Sandhurst, with the Royal Gurkha Rifles being my first choice.

The selection process to become a serving soldier for the Brigade of Gurkhas takes place in Pokhara in the Himalayas and is full of punishing trials. This process sees recruits undergo various mental and physical tests – including the infamous five-kilometre Doko race. A five kilometre race may not sound too daunting at first, but with the added pressure of carrying 25kg bags of sand in a wicker basket on your back whilst running up a rocky, dusty mountain in under 48 minutes it really defines what makes the Gurkhas so tough. From the last 7,865 Nepalese applicants only 500 made it through to the final two weeks of testing, where 230 were successful and inducted into the British Army.

For this Doko Race, I will be carrying 15kg as per the GWT weight restriction, and will attempt to beat the 46 minute record currently set! Over the next two month period I will provide some updates about my training and preparation for this challenging event.

All money raised will go directly to the Gurkha Welfare Trust - it would be fantastic to meet the £550 target I have been set, and with your support we can continue to support the service given by thousands of Gurkha's and their families to the British Army.

Thank you for your support!

Olly