Walking for Water: Changing Lives in Remote Nepal
This month has seen a dedicated group of our supporters Walking for Water in the first of our series of Welfare Walk virtual challenges.
Through spring downpours to a record-breaking heatwave, our supporters showed incredible determination and defied the elements to complete the challenge.
Meet some of our Walk for Water Champions
Adrian Incledon-Webber
Adrian signed up for Walk the Water as he wanted to do something that would really make a difference to the lives of people in Nepal. “I wanted to do something that had longevity and helped the local people.”
Although he found it a challenge to fit the walking around his work, he has done a fantastic job both in getting the miles in and raising support. “I certainly feel fitter and am really pleased with the donations from many of my clients and friends. I had a target figure of £1,000 as my personal goal, I have achieved that with many people’s help.”
Adrian has been to Nepal a few times and loves both the people and the countryside. “It can be challenging but awe-inspiring at the same time.”
He has connections to Nepal through family and friends, “My great Uncle Adrian, who I was named after, was in the Himalayas before the first World War, and I still have the kukri that was made for him whilst he was there. I have a very good friend, Subash Tamang, who lives on the Nepalese border with India. I wanted to make him proud, his father-in-law is a retired Gurkha, a wonderful man.”
Cheryl Bell
“I have loved spending time outdoors with my partner in crime Hector (my dog) but it’s not as easy as you think – 3 miles, that’s no distance really but it’s sometimes difficult to fit it into your day, especially if you work full-time hours. Keeping up with the motivation was a challenge too. Saying that, it has been enjoyable and a good driver to do some exercise whilst raising money for a very worthy cause.”
“Having recently visited Nepal, I have seen first-hand how fundraising events like this help those in need. Those real, concrete examples of the Gurkha Welfare Trust projects gave me a greater understanding of a ‘day in the life of’ and how our projects help those in need. Seeing how happy and grateful our beneficiaries were made it all the more important for me to ‘do my bit’ to help.”
“I have realised I’m not as unfit as I thought I was! It has certainly given me the push to get out more. As a veteran myself, I served with the Gurkhas in Hong Kong, I have worked alongside them. They are professional, gentle and good- humoured, not forgetting they can make a mean curry!
Rii Bura
Rii grew up in Rolpa, Nepal, where she watched her mother, grandmother, and aunties walk for hours carrying heavy loads of water. “For many women in rural Nepal, this was simply part of daily life. As a Nepali woman, those memories have stayed with me deeply.” This inspired her to join the Walk for Water Challenge. “Even my name, Rii, means water in the Kham language, my mother tongue. Sometimes I feel like this challenge found me personally because water has always been connected to my identity, my childhood, and the women who raised me.”
“I carry the stories of Nepali women with me – women like my mother and aunties, who spent so much of their lives walking long distances for water instead of resting, learning, or simply enjoying life. For me, this challenge is more than fundraising. It feels like a small step from Nepali women living in the UK to support and uplift Nepali women back home. I hope that one day women and children in rural Nepal will not have to suffer in the same way. I hope women can have more time for themselves, and children can spend more time studying, dreaming, and playing with their friends instead of carrying water for hours every day.”
“I am truly enjoying this challenge. It started as a way to build discipline and motivate myself to keep moving every day, but it has become much more emotional and meaningful than I expected. Every step reminds me to feel grateful – for clean water, for opportunities, for health, and for the people who have shaped my life. Alongside the challenge, I have also been sharing daily gratitude posts on Instagram, appreciating people who have positively influenced my journey. It has brought me a lot of positivity, reflection, and connection.
View some of Rii’s daily dedications
I thought I was simply joining to support a good cause and improve my fitness, but it has become something much deeper. It has made me reflect on my roots, appreciate the sacrifices of women before me, and realise how powerful small daily actions can be.”
Making a real difference
The funds raised from the fantastic participants in this challenge will fund the installation of a new Water Project in Sekaha.
Hidden amongst steep hills and forests, Sekaha is a beautiful but incredibly remote community. For years, the community relied on natural springs and an ageing water system, built decades ago.
Over time, landslides, harsh weather, and lack of maintenance meant the system deteriorated, leaving families with unreliable access to water. During dry periods, sources often ran out completely, forcing women and children to walk long distances to collect water from unsafe alternatives.
During the monsoon season, water became easier to find, but often unsafe due to contamination. Planning a whole day around collecting water; carrying heavy containers over steep terrain, knowing tomorrow you’ll have to do it all again. For families in Sekaha, this has been daily life.
But thanks to the participants of this challenge, things are changing.
This project will bring safe, reliable water directly to seven households, supporting 38 people in the community. A new system will lift water from a spring source below the village to a reservoir tank above the settlement, before safely distributing it to homes.
It means:
💧 Less time spent walking long distances for water
💧 More time for education, work, and family life
💧 Better hygiene and sanitation
💧 Cleaner, safer water all year round
💧 Greater dignity and independence for families
We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has taken part, or donated to this challenge. Your support means the people of Sekaha will no longer have to walk for water as they will have access to safe, clean water on their doorsteps.