Prince Harry, 36, has sent a good luck message to fundraisers taking part in a 100km walking challenge. The Trailwalker Relay event is being organised in support of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam. Harry, who served alongside the Gurkhas in Afghanistan and visited Nepal following the 2015 earthquake, urged participants to “dig deep” to complete the endurance feat.
In a video on Twitter, Harry said: “Almost five years I travelled to Nepal to visit communities, meet families an see first-hand how the country was rebuilding following the devastating 2015 earthquake.
“Buildings, temples, homes and entire villages has been completely demolished.
“But it was clear that despite everything the Nepalese faced, their spirit and their resilience never weakened.
“There was a clear sense of care and compassion for each other.
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“With COVID-19 the world has been pitted against a new challenge.
“One that is devastating and destructive in its own right and I’m heartened to see once again the Nepalese spirit is unwavering.
“In Afghanistan, I was honoured to serve alongside the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
“These soldiers showed me what they believe in; they showed me what their values are.
“I know that you can do it and with every step, you take just remember you’re helping those who need it most.”
The now-virtual event usually takes place across the South Downs, with hundreds of civilians setting off alongside the Queen’s Gurkha Signals.
But because of the pandemic, the mass walk was cancelled, with people now taking part separately, splitting the distance between teams, and following social distancing rules.
The Trailwalker Relay begins on Monday and runs until September 27.
