Gurkha Trailblazer charity race fights Nepal’s ‘dark side’ in bid to help children
- Stunning Hong Kong trail race returns this weekend after a four-year hiatus, paying homage to Gurkhas’ role in Hong Kong history
- Organisers the Child Welfare Scheme also waging a ‘relentless’ fight to help Nepalese children escape labour and sex trafficking
The QNET Gurkha Trailblazer is set to return on February 4 after a four-year hiatus during the pandemic.
The event quickly became a fixture in the trail running calendar after getting the nod for “Best New Race” at the 2018 Gonerunning Hong Kong Trail Running Awards, with a stunning route through the New Territories and over Pat Sin Leng, but it has not been held since January 2019.
There is more to the race, which has two distances at 12 kilometres and 26km, than just beautiful scenery, however – it was set up by two Nepalese charities, which help children escape forced labour and sex trafficking.
“The Child Welfare Scheme’s [CWS] Board of Directors are all into trail running and do this in Nepal as well,” 58-year-old CWS founder Douglas Maclagan said.
“As the Gurkhas always participate and do very well in the Oxfam Trailwalker. We thought we would create our own race dedicated entirely to supporting vulnerable children and young people in Nepal with the proceeds of the race.”
The race also supports the Gurkha Cemeteries Trust, and promotes the role of Gurkhas in Hong Kong.