Donate to help poor school children in Nepal.

I am a 56-year-old retired Gurkha Army Officer from Maidstone, Kent. I have served 35 years in the British Army and during those years, I have taken part in many challenges for charities, including the Cross Channel Swim in 2002.

The reason I am running The Big Half (London Half Marathon) is threefold: A – to challenge myself, B – to promote running for older people like myself to maintain physical and mental wellbeing, and C – to raise money towards helping underprivileged children in remote parts of Nepal by supporting their education.

Why support a charity for education? I have always believed that education is one of the main keys to unlocking the potential of any child. I came from a very underprivileged family background in Nepal, where I grew up in a house with a tin roof and went to well below-par state schools. Despite many challenges, I worked hard and completed my basic education prior to joining the Gurkhas. I am proud to say that I had a very successful army career and, while of course there are many other qualities required too, I unreservedly give credit to my level of education (above average for a Gurkha back then) as the key to my success story!

Although I have raised money for charities in the past, this is the first time I will be overseeing the benefits of the fund raised and the delivery of the educational supplies directly to the children myself.

This is the start of my new journey where I would like to help those in need in Nepal. A way of paying back the country that raised me, I guess!

Thank you for being so supportive.