This week: Phil Sayers, Kieran Shelley, Debbie Badger, Ben Ranger, Pete Gasson and Mark Swaithe

We were fascinated by the mystery and fear that has been associated with the men of the Gurkha Rifles and the respect that they have earned from all levels of the British Armed Forces. We are a group of 12 people and we originally planned to attempt the three-peaks challenge this year, but after discovering the Oxfam Trailwalker, we decided that this would be a more challenging event. Phil’s family has a connection with the Gurkha Rifles going back to his grandmother’s stepfather who served in the Great War of 1914-1918 and his Great-uncle – Oliver Chaplin, who, during the Second World War, spent two years attached to the 1st Gurkha Rifles fighting in India.

Phil Sayers, Kieran Shelley, Debbie Badger,
Ben Ranger, Pete Gasson and Mark Swaithe will be hiking 100km across the South Downs on 14 July to raise money for Oxfam and the Ghurkha Welfare Fund. In 2002 Trailwalker UK was opened up to the public via a partnership with Oxfam and has since grown into a major fundraising event.

The hike, which starts near Winchester and finishes at the Brighton Racecourse, is a 62 mile course that must be completed in less than 30 hours. The group of 12 are hoping to finish the walk in 24 hours and their target is to raise £4,500. The group is holding a fundraiser quiz night at The Hove Kitchen on 9 July at 7.30pm, with a raffle and prizes donated by local charities.
To donate: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/DirtyDozenTrailwalkers