A LYMM electrician who was caught up in the devastating earthquake that claimed the life of 8,000 people in Nepal in 2015 is walking the length of New Zealand to help rebuild the country.

Carl Hutchinson, 30, and his partner Adele-Ivy Harris, 25, are 15 weeks into a mammoth six-month trek of the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail to raise money for the Himalayan Trust’s Nepal Earthquake Rebuild.

The couple were inspired to take up the challenge after witnessing first-hand the aftermath of the cataclysmic earthquake, which struck on April 25 2015.

They were travelling through Nepal when the 7.8 magnitude quake hit and were involved in the initial clean-up, clearing away rubble and building bamboo shelters and temporary tarpaulin shelters.

Carl, a former Lymm High School student, said: “After experiencing a small part of the devastation of the earthquake in Nepal and spending time in a village close to Kathmandu helping to build temporary shelters, we left feeling the optimistic and resilient people of Nepal needed so much help.

“This was when we decided to do a fundraiser, one which would challenge us mentally and physically, while reminding those we meet of the long, hard earthquake rebuild Nepal will have over the next few decades.”

Carl and Adele, who walk on average 20km a day, hope to raise £10,000 and are fundraising in towns and cities they walk through.

They will reach the Tararua Ranges on the North Island this weekend before continuing to Auckland and their final destination, Cape Reinga.

“I feel I've learnt a lot from walking as it's the slowest way to get from A to B,” added Carl.

“You need patience and a strong mind to know that however high or far you have to walk, whether it takes six hours or six months, as long as you put one foot in front of the other you'll get there in the end. I think this transfers well into day to day life.

“I have aspirations to carry on living selflessly and to take every opportunity to help those less fortunate then myself.”

Himalayan Trust General Manager Prue Smith said the trust is rebuilding classrooms, teacher’s quarters, student hostels and toilet blocks in at least 40 schools in the Everest region where it works.

“We are estimating it may take five years to repair and rebuild all the damaged buildings in the isolated Everest region where we work, particularly as we want to make sure the new classrooms meet the new seismic-resilient building codes to better ensure the safety of children and teachers in case of a similar disaster,” said Prue. “The money raised by Carl and Adele will be an enormous help to our ongoing rebuild work.”

To follow the couple’s journey and make a donation, visit ourrambles.com.