PLANS to erect a statue in Maidstone commemorating the achievements of the town’s Gurkhas are fast becoming a reality with the latest fund-raising milestone reached.

The Maidstone Trust’s Gurkha Statue campaign fund, which aims to raise £15,000 for the bronze figure outside Maidstone Museum, now stands at £12,500.

The news comes as leaders of the Maidstone Nepalese Community announce plans for an evening of Nepalese culture and food, with music and dancing which they hope will raise £2,000.

The charity evening will take place at Maidstone Community Support Centre, in Marsham Street, on Friday, July 11 at 7.30pm.

Entrance is free but guests will be asked to donate to the campaign.

Maidstone Nepalese Community was set up in 2006 to offer support to Nepalese families who live in the area.

Despite serving with the British Army for 200 years, Gurkhas receive a lower pension than other Army veterans. Those who retired before 1997 do not enjoy the right to British citizenship.

On Wednesday, a group of Gurkha soldiers again travelled to Downing Street to hand back their long service medals in protest.

Maidstone Nepalese Community’s president, retired Gurkha corporal Ratna Limbu, said: “Gurkhas are very loyal to Britain but we do have issues about how we have been treated by the British Government.

“Yet it is heart warming that locally there is such support for us. Maidstone is one of the friendliest areas I have lived in.”

The fund-raising campaign was launched just over two months ago. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the raising of the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers.

Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem) who co-ordinates the campaign for the Maidstone Trust, said: “We are thrilled with the total. It has captured the imagination of those with pennies to spare, to the town’s businesses.”

Town Centre Management this week pledged £250 for the campaign. Anything over £15,000 will be donated to the British Gurkha Welfare Fund.

The postal address for the Gurkha tribute fund is Freepost RRXA-AZKU-CEKR, Maidstone Trust (GT), Maidstone, ME14 5SF. Cheques should be made payable to The Maidstone Trust Ltd.