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Maidstone family of Nepal earthquake victim Matt Carapiet riding from London to Brighton

13:56, 30 May 2019

updated: 15:12, 31 May 2019

Family and friends of Nepal earthquake victim Matt Carapiet are raising money in his memory this weekend.

The 23-year-old from Bearsted was one of nearly 9,000 people to die when a 7.8magnitude earthquake struck in April 2015.

Four years on, thousands of pounds has been raised in Matt's memory to support communities in Cambodia and Langtang, where Matt was when the earthquake struck.

Greg and Matt Carapiet together (11464741)
Greg and Matt Carapiet together (11464741)

This weekend friends and family, including Matt's father Greg Carapiet, will cycle from London to Brighton in the hope of raising £3,000.

Mr Carapiet said: "We do it all in Matt's memory, to keep his name alive."

The money goes toward Langtang meidcal centre, and the family hopes funds could also help set up a dental facility and additional medical facilities Kyangje.

Last month Matt's family travelled to Cambodia where they saw the foundations Matt helped lay for a new school during his gap year.

His father said: "It was so good to see what he'd contributed to - to meet the people he met out there and see how it is all working.

"We set up the Matt Carapiet Charitable Trust to keep doing things we think Matt would've liked to have done himself, like supporting small communities in places where there is poverty."

So far the cycling team has managed to raise more than a £1,000 in donations, on top of a £4,000 donation from Festival Medical Services, which has provided support at Glastonbury Festival.

At the time of the earthquake, architecture graduate Matt was believed to be in Langtang, a village home to 435 people with 55 hotels and guest houses.

Just one house remained after the earthquake.

Mr Carapiet added: "Thousands of people lost their lives including Matt.

"We're just trying to restart the lives of the people who survived, because they're not getting all the support they need."

To donate to the trust's fundraising page, click here.

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