04/08/2023

Mira Rai opens improved Area Welfare Centre in Bhojpur

Our Ambassador Mira Rai was pleased to lead the opening ceremony of our expanded Area Welfare Centre (AWC) in Bhojpur, the eastern Nepali village where she was born. Mira, a record-breaking trail runner and sky runner, became our Ambassador in May of this year.

Between 1988 and 2015, there were several major earthquakes that hit the Bhojpur area and damaged some parts of the AWC, leaving cracks along the walls. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and pensioners, a plan was created to refurbish and expand the AWC to an earthquake-resilient standard.

The old Area Welfare Centre was built by traditional Nepali methods, using local mud and mortar stone for the walls.

The new and improved Area Welfare Centre was constructed with brick masonry and concrete. It has five rooms for office space on the ground floor, and eight rooms on the first and second floors to accommodate visiting GWT staff. The sturdy veranda will allow staff and pensioners to safely sit outside while sheltered from heavy rains.

The new AWC was built to an earthquake-resilient standard, with five rooms for office space on the ground floor, and eight rooms on the first and second floors to accommodate visiting GWT staff.

Mira Rai was greeted at the AWC by a big crowd, who gifted her many malas – Nepali garlands which are often made from flowers. After the opening ceremony of the new building, Mira spoke about her connection to Bhojpur, the GWT, and her plans for the future.

“Bhojpur is close to my heart as this is where I grew up,” Mira said. “I will be working with The Gurkha Welfare Trust’s team to promote their work.

“I have been able to represent Nepal in trail running events all over the world. And now to be appointed as [The Gurkha Welfare Trust’s] Ambassador has given me an even bigger opportunity. I am happy and feel very proud to be taking this role.”

About Mira

Mira’s early life was relentlessly challenging. The Maoist insurgency gave her the opportunity to utilise her knowledge of the local terrain and her natural ability as a runner. During this period, Mira made the most of the opportunities to play volleyball and football in the camps and started to hone her skills in karate.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Mira travelled to Kathmandu to pursue further karate training and running, realising that her innate skills were in individual rather than team sports. Her first road running race was in the Kathmandu valley, during which she realised that long-distance running was her metier.

Finding her footing in ultra-trail running, Mira won many races and quickly rose to fame as a record-breaking national hero, participating in international events throughout the world. She continues her racing career today and organises her own trail races throughout Nepal.

Mira is an inspiration to countless young aspiring athletes across Nepal and has set up her own charity, the Mira Rai Initiative, which aims to unleash potential through ‘creating the dream’ and transforming the lives of young athletes. In April 2023 she was presented with the Prabal Jana Sewa Shree, one of Nepal’s highest civilian awards in recognition of her contribution to the country.