BMF instructors help to rebuild Nepal school devastated by earthquake

A group of seven volunteers, including Jeremy Bearder and Graeme Howell, British Military Fitness instructors from Finsbury, have travelled to Nepal to help rebuild a school which was destroyed by the April 2015 earthquake, after raising over £8,000 to do so.

In April, Graeme flew to Nepal to help with the relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake. While visiting, he was shocked by the extensive damage to Shree Jala Kanya Parimaki school and was inspired to help. Since returning home, Graeme and Jeremy, along with Ram Bandhari of White Water Nepal, have been extensively fundraising to raise the £8,000 needed to rebuild the school, and have now returned to help with the restoration efforts.

The group invited locals to get involved and after five days, the build was almost complete, with only the final paint work to finish. Whilst in Nepal, Jeremy and Graeme also taught some English lessons, as well as putting on a mini BMF session for the local children.

Jeremy Bearder, Park Manager at BMF Finsbury Park, commented: “Graeme visited Nepal soon after the earthquake had struck and when he came back and told us of the devastation caused and the effect on the people living there, we knew there was something we had to do to help. We held various BMF charity fitness sessions and auctions to help raise the necessary funds and I want to thank everyone who donated to such a worthy cause. Being able to return to Nepal to complete the project was a fantastic, humbling experience and to see how much this meant to the local people was amazing.

“Once the build was complete, the headmaster and school children presented us with special garlands and the celebration then continued into the evening with dancing and singing to commemorate what we had achieved – it was incredible.”

The group has now documented their efforts in a book, entitled Rebuilding Nepal: One Earthbag at a Time, to help others who may want to take on similar projects in the future, as well as to detail their journey and the plight of the population of Nepal following the shocking earthquake. 100% of funds raised from the proceeds of this book will be returned to Nepal to continue building.

Well done Jel and Graeme!