A PHOTOGRAPHER is planning to kickstart 2023 with an incredible fundraising challenge – walking the entire length of Nepal.

Johnny Fenn, from Mere, is a long-term supporter and ambassador of The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT), which provides vital support to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities in Nepal by delivering essential financial and medical aid and working with local communities to provide access to clean water and education.

He will be setting off in early January, heading for Nepal’s western border to begin a journey that will see him walking for around four months.

His route will take him through rugged mountain terrain, across rivers with suspended bridges, and along steep mountain tracks far from civilisation.

Johnny anticipates the approximately 1,400-mile journey to take roughly 16 weeks, with 60 miles of vertical ascent.

He aims to raise £18,000, with the proceeds being divided equally between The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Hello World, a charity which aims to address the education deficit and skills shortage in rural Nepal by providing hubs with solar-wifi enabled computer kiosks loaded with educational material.

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There will be little comfort on the journey, as Johnny plans to live like a porter, eating a simple plate of ‘dal bhat’ twice a day (rice, lentil dal, and vegetables).

Johnny said: "I will be accompanied by two porters that I have known for years, and who are also both excited to see the whole of Nepal. We will eat simple rice 'dal bhat' throughout; no meat, and just water and tea. I have 112 days to complete this, and if you have ever trekked in the hills of Nepal, you’ll know it’s a tough ask."

Johnny has been involved with Nepal and the Gurkhas for many years. He is a former British Army Officer and served 16 of his 25 years with the Brigade of Gurkhas.

His Gurkha service took him to East Timor and Iraq, before being posted back to the UK as deputy chief of staff for the Brigade of Gurkhas.

On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Johnny was appointed British military advisor to ECOWAS in Nigeria, then took up the role of field director of The Gurkha Welfare Trust in Pokhara, Nepal.

He is now a professional photographer and explorer, and has travelled the globe on photographic adventures. Since becoming a photographer, Johnny has returned to Nepal at least once every year.

Johnny will be joined on sections of his walk by local staff and supporters, including Hari Budha Magar, another ambassador for the GWT. Hari is a double above-knee amputee and record-breaking mountaineer who will be attempting to summit Mount Everest in 2023.

Johnny will be carrying a GPS tracker so supporters will be able to track his progress on GWT’s website.

More information about Johnny’s walk can be found here and his fundraising page can be found here.