Gurkha veteran thanks Jersey for support in Nepal

Hari Budha Magar said donations from Jersey had made a big difference in Nepal

A Gurkha veteran has thanked the Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey (GWTJ) for the work it has done in Nepal.

The charity marked its 10th anniversary on Thursday with a Bhat dinner at the Pomme D’Or Hotel.

Veteran Hari Budha Magar lost both his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010 while serving the British Army and last year he became the first double amputee to climb Mount Everest.

He came to Jersey to praise the work of the GWTJ at the dinner and to speak about how disabilities should not hold people back from challenges.

Mr Magar trained for years to get ready to summit Mount Everest

Mr Magar, who was born in a remote village in Western Nepal, joined the British Army when he was 19-years-old and served for 15 years with the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

He said the money people from Jersey had donated "has gone a long way in improving the lives of children".

"Coming here isn’t just about raising money - it’s also about raising awareness about what people with disabilities can achieve," Mr Magar said.

Lt Col John Pinel said the GWTJ wanted to thank its supporters

Lt Col John Pinel, chairman of GWTJ, introduced Mr Magar to the guests at the dinner.

He said it was "a way to say thank you" to people who have donated to the charity.

Lt Col Pinel said: "We've raised over £1.5m in 10 years thanks to this support and to put it into context, we can build a secondary school there for £200,000 so that money makes a difference."

The GWTJ has also helped construct three community centres as well as clean water and sanitation for 16 Gurkha villages.