JOANNA Lumley and Dan Snow are among celebrities lending their support to The Gurkha Welfare Trust’s Our Duty of Care Appeal which has launched this year.
Both Lumley and Snow will take part in the Trust’s fundraising pageant in London this June. Hundreds of serving soldiers will also perform in a celebration of 200 years of service to the Crown. The Trust is running the appeal to provide vital medical support for elderly veterans in Nepal.
Lumley, who has a history of campaigning in support of Gurkha ex-Servicemen, said: “Through The Gurkha Welfare Trust we can show our gratitude by helping to look after the old and infirm veterans, who cheerfully offered their lives for us during every kind of hardship and in every theatre of war, but are now in real need of our support.”
Gurkhas first fought on the British side in 1815 and have continued to do so in every major conflict since. Most notably they served in both World Wars, where they suffered over 40,000 casualties and gained renown for their valour and resolve. Many WWII veterans are still supported by the Trust today.
Other famous names to stand behind their cause include Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, Baroness Betty Boothroyd and actress Virginia McKenna. Adventurers Kenton Cool and David Hempleman-Adams, who are advising on Gurkha expeditions to Everest and the Arctic this May, are also ambassadors of the Trust.
The Gurkha Welfare provides financial, medical and community aid to nearly 7,000 Gurkha veterans and their families at risk of destitution in Nepal. Details of the appeal can be found at www.gurkha200.co.uk/ourappeal