FUNDRAISERS at an exclusive North Yorkshire school aim to raise enough money to fund the building of a new school in the developing world.

Ampleforth College will hold a fundraising evening this weekend to raise £5,000 for the Pahar Trust, a British-based charity which builds schools in East and West Nepal.

The charity is connected with the Gurkhas, the Nepalese troops who fight for the British Army.

The college, which celebrates its connections with the Gurkhas, including a memorial to a former student, Michael Allmand, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after serving with the 3rd/6th Gurkha Rifles in Burma, is now supporting the charity with a Gurkha evening.

A spokeswoman for the college said: "Due to our bonds with the Gurkhas, we are delighted to be able to offer this support for the charity.

"The idea was put forward by some of our boys who thought the charity was doing wonderful work, and we are very pleased to be able to make this contribution."

The evening will help to raise funds to build a school for 100 children in the mountain region of Nepal.

The evening will provide guests with the opportunity to experience the village life, food and culture of the country.

Ghurka Bhat (food), music and dancing will be provided by Ghurka chefs and recruits of the Gurkha Training Company, Catterick Garrison.

Pipers from the Army Foundation in Harrogate will also perform, in addition to an illustrated talk outlining the practicalities of the scheme by the chairman of the Pahar Trust, Tom Langridge.

The local co-ordinator for the charity, Major John Parfect, of Coxwold, said: "Boys at the school were moved to support this charity after we held a similar fundraising event in Easingwold last year.

"The evenings are very enjoyable to take part in, and, of course, are tremendous ways to raise money.

"This charity is all about trying to give a little back to the Gurkhas, who have given so much to us. We think this is a good way of doing it."

The achievements of the Trust in the past decade have been impressive, raising £400,000 and building 19 schools and one hostel in the more remote areas of West and East Nepal.

More than 7,500 children aged between five and 16 are currently being taught in the schools, many of them sons and daughters of Gurkhas.

Work has begun on nine more schools, due for completion by 2005, aiming to provide schooling for 10,000 children by 2011.

Updated: 09:18 Thursday, May 01, 2003