Since the end of 2015, I have been heading the Gurkha Welfare Trust's post earthquake reconstruction programme.  We have now built 1100 new, earthquake resistant homes for ex Gurkha soldiers (and their widows) but are also concentrating our efforts on their shattered communities.  We are therefore rebuilding a number of schools in the worst affected areas and, to paraphrase a famous drink, "reaching the parts other organisations cannot reach."

Our target is Shree Bhawani School in upper Gorkha, just 10 miles from the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake.  This is the first and last school in Gorkha district - two more days' walk is the border with Tibet.  Last year we built 10 classrooms there, this year we are building a hostel for the 100 children who board and we plan to build a final phase of classrooms and a library for the 570 children starting after the monsoon.

Our team has all visited Shree Bhawani school and we decided on the last trip to do something more about it.  Trailwalker 2018 is our way of doing this.  So, over the next few months, I will be spending more time than usual in the hills around Gorkha, getting ready for this challenge.  I will keep you updated with my training as well as developments on the school.

Thank you for your support