A hero’s welcome for Rob Abernethy

Former Gurkha officer Rob Abernethy cycled 2,200km across Nepal raising over £100,000 to build a school there.

He set off on 1 January, tackling some of the world’s most difficult terrain to raise £100,000 to rebuild a school there.

On his Instagram account, he’s described his journey so far as ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’ and ‘tough’. We are in awe of his strength and determination so far. We can only imagine how difficult it’s been for him.

 

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Fulbari. 11km NW of Kharbang Bazar. 20km from school. Thank you for £s. What a day. Can I say it…please forgive me. Toughest yet – I hope none tougher. Explored areas of brain not visited for a long time…?. The stats say everything: 5hrs to cover first 20km. 5hrs! 20km! It hurt. ? Check out the lack of track. ?. Amazing views. Big ? Next 4 hrs – 60km. Nice. ? In the sun. No elevenses or lunch as wilderness. Emergency rations; ‘biscuits brown’ and ‘oat meal block’ came into play. ?. May have momentarily become a little unaware of my exact location. Small flap… Thankful for Silva ?. With @gurkhawelfaretrust this evening. Looking forward to big supper and early night. Enjoyed my ? ?. School tomorrow. Direction Rukum I hope – differing opinions on tracks. Not sure of comms or location for a few days. Thank you for support. ?

A post shared by Rob Abernethy (@cycleacrossnepal) on Jan 13, 2020 at 4:12am PST

A brighter future for the children of Shree Prabha School

We were delighted to give him a warm welcome at the school earlier this week.

Rob was moved by the reception:

“It was amazing. It was actually very emotional. With the entire school lined up to give me a Mala (flower garland). I have never seen so many Mala.”

“To welcome me with a band, with speeches with dances… It could not have been a more warm welcome.”

“And it was great to see the building work going on and all the money that supporters have raised actually taking shape on the ground.”

Rob made us his chosen charity because of his connection to the Gurkhas.

“I was a Gurkha officer commissioned in 1993 into the newly formed First Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles.”“Every year I’ve tried to support The Gurkha Welfare Trust through a variety of challenges, this one being the hardest yet.”

Suman, a pupil from the school is looking forward to having more classrooms:

“We didn’t have enough classrooms and the GWT is constructing a ten-room building for us. There are 76 students in my year. We will have a lot more room to learn once the construction is complete.”

All of the funds raised by Rob’s cycle will assist in the rebuild of Shree Prabha School in the Gulmi District of west Nepal. Here’s what the funding will support:

• Demolishing unsafe classrooms

• Providing 12 new classrooms

• A new latrine block with separate toilets for girls and boys

• An expanded clean water supply on site

• Better class interiors and improved library facilities

• A performance area built for student assemblies, performances and shelter in the event of an earthquake

Mr Nabaraj Acharya, the school principal is delighted with the progress of the new school:

“GWT is now building a ten-room building for the school, I would like to thank GWT from the bottom of my heart. With the construction of the new classrooms followed by the provision of library materials and teacher training, I am confident that our school will become an example for learning environment in the national level.”

If you’d like help Rob hit his £100,000 target, visit his JustGiving page.