A personal message
I'm going to do something very hard and very difficult for Oxfam and the Gurkha Charities. Can you help?
In 2014, I walked 100km non-stop for charity with some friends. This is how it started
This is me at 2am, 70km into the event
And this is us at the end
Since then, one of the team, Jeff, on the left, has died.
We are walking again in 2022, 8 years older, much nearer 60 than 50 this time to honour him, and the amazing work of Oxfam, and the incredible Gurkha Charities. We live in a world that needs both charity and strength of purpose. This event demonstrates those.
Since January, each of us in the team has done over 2,500,000 steps in training, we have walked overnight, and walked over mountains. We have walked to the pub, and walked across the fields. Every step is part of the event.
While walking, we have 4 amazing support crew to care for us and handle logistics. This is so much more than a little “sponsored walk”. In the words of Oxfam:
THE HISTORY OF TRAILWALKER
EXERCISE TRAILWALKER started out as a military training exercise in Hong Kong in 1981. Organised by the Queen’s Gurkha Signals, and taking place along the famous Maclehose Trail, the exercise sought to test the endurance and teamwork of soldiers of the Queen’s Gurkha Signals over a long and arduous course. A few years later in 1986, Trailwalker was opened to civilian participation too.
When the Queen’s Gurkha Signals moved from Hong Kong to the UK, Trailwalker came too, with the 100km event now taking place across the South Downs, and with hundreds of civilian teams setting off alongside the Gurkhas every year.
Today, Trailwalker still forms part of the Gurkha's training exercises, and is also a much-loved cultural event in the UK Gurkha community's calendar. More about the Queen's Gurkha Signals
THE ROUTE
Trailwalker covers some of the most beautiful countryside in England, following the historic paths of the South Downs Way over rolling chalk hills and past stunning sea views. Setting off from the Queen Elizabeth Country Park on Friday morning, you'll find a checkpoint roughly every 10km along the route, where you can fill up your water, get first aid, and meet your support crew to grab some food or change kit. At Checkpoint 7 you'll get a hot meal to keep you going through the night. The trail ends at Brighton Racecourse, where you'll receive a hero's welcome, your medal, and a delicious Nepalese Gurkha curry.
This is the route. If you want to drive it to get an idea of just how far 100km / 62 miles is:
So, on a personal note, if you can help, please do. Either by sponsoring us via the team Just Giving Page or my personal Just Giving Page or by supporting Oxfam, or the Gurkha Charities, or a mental health charity that was precious to Jeff at Dorking Minds
If not, that is also fine. Its a very tough time for many businesses and many families and we all completely understand.
I will share a picture or two from this year’s event when it is over. If we make it.
Thanks for reading.
(This is Sweyn, he is walking with me again this year too! )
