Strength in Every Step: Supporting the Gurkha Welfare Trust through Trailwalker 2024
Some challenges test endurance; others remind us what we’re capable of when purpose fuels every step. The Trailwalker 2024 Challenge — a gruelling 100km trek across the South Downs — was both.
In 2024, Ben Salter, a long-time friend and supporter of Priavo Security, took on the Trailwalker Challenge to raise funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) — an organisation dedicated to supporting Gurkha veterans and their families, as well as delivering vital healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects across some of the poorest regions of Nepal.
Ben joined a determined team made up of colleagues from Goldman Sachs Global Security and GS Engineering — including Mark Armstrong, Manoj Ghale, Surya Ghale, Austin Ghale, and Mahendra Sakya — a truly international group united by shared respect and a sense of purpose. Together, they trained for months, covering hundreds of miles through mud, rain, and early mornings to prepare for the event.
At Priavo, we were proud to support Ben and his team — both through a donation to their campaign and by standing behind them every step of the way as they took on one of the UK’s toughest endurance events.
Trailwalker isn’t a casual stroll. It’s 100 kilometres of hills, blisters, fatigue, and relentless perseverance. But it’s also a journey of solidarity and gratitude. The event, originally created as a military training exercise by the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment, continues today as a symbol of teamwork, resilience, and the enduring bond between the UK and Nepal.
Ben’s team set out with a shared intention: to start together and finish together. They faced “biblical” weather during training, but on race day, the clouds cleared. Fueled by teamwork, humour, handfuls of Haribo, and a powerful sense of purpose, they crossed the finish line side by side — stronger than the sum of their parts.
Their efforts paid off in every sense. The team surpassed their fundraising goal, raising over £5,000 to support the Gurkha Welfare Trust’s projects. Every pound goes directly toward improving lives — building clean water systems, funding schools, and ensuring that the Gurkha veterans who once served our nation are never left behind.
For us, supporting this initiative felt deeply aligned with Priavo’s values. It’s about discipline, camaraderie, and respect — principles we share with the Gurkha community and admire deeply.
The success of Ben’s challenge wasn’t measured in miles or minutes, but in meaning — in showing gratitude to those who served with quiet bravery and who continue to inspire us with their resilience.
Summary:
Trailwalker 2024 was more than an endurance challenge; it was a journey of solidarity and gratitude. Through Ben’s remarkable effort — supported by his team, friends, and donors — funds were raised to change lives in Nepal and to honour Gurkha veterans who have given so much. We were proud to walk beside them, in spirit and support.
Learn more about the incredible work of the Gurkha Welfare Trust at www.gwt.org.uk. You can contribute directly to their ongoing projects, supporting Gurkha veterans and improving education, housing, and healthcare across Nepal, through their Donate page.
Every donation honours those who served with courage — and helps provide dignity and hope to those still in need.