Hi All,
Want to help educate two Nepalese schoolgirls without getting altitude sickness? Then support the climb-a-thon my friend Kate (pictured here) is undertaking on Wednesday!
I've pasted her letter below (because yeah, I couldn't figure out how to attach it - but I can send it to you if you ask). Plus, she describes why this particular family and how the climb-a-thon works.
A Swiss woman living in South Africa raising money for people Nepal and receiving support from people around the world. Yes, we can be quite the global community if we put our minds to it!
So - I encourage you to support her if you can. She's a fabulous person and I'd like to help her achieve her dream!
Thanks,
Miss K
PS - Please contact Kate (kathryn_crowther@hotmail.com) or me directly to get her banking details... didn't seem like that was something that I should put online for the world to see. And now to her letter:
While I was in Nepal in 2005, I was deeply touched by the hospitality, friendship and kindness of the local people, even though they had, themselves, many hardships to bear. A porter, Dawa, who trekked with me and my friend for a few weeks, was badly affected by the political situation in his country and the resulting lack of tourists. Because of the shortage of work, Dawa could no longer afford to send his 2 daughters, Chotti and Tschering (then aged 7 and 9) to school.
Many of you very kindly supported me in my fundraising activity in 2005, to raise money for Chotti and Tschering’s education. I successfully raised 4 years worth of schooling for each girl. Tragically, Dawa became another victim of the violence in Nepal; he was shot and killed just outside Katmandu in May 2006, just one day before he was supposed to go trekking. His children and his widow now rely completely on outside support. Because I knew Dawa personally, it is very important to me to ensure that his girls will be educated and looked after until they can support themselves (and their mother).
I have chosen my next adventure to be a means of raising money to finance the following years of Chotti’s and Tschering’s schooling. Please, let me explain…
In April/May 2008 I will attempt to climb Cho Oyu, 8’201m, the world’s 6th highest mountain. I am asking you to donate a chosen amount per 100m of altitude that I achieve, starting at 5’500m, ending at the highest point I reach (climbing up and down does not count double). Here are some examples: Jim would like to donate 5 Swiss Francs (CHF) per 100m of altitude that I achieve. If I reach 5’600m, he will donate CHF 5 (1 x CHF 5), if I reach 7’000m, he will donate CHF 75 (15 x CHF 5) and if I summit, he will donate CHF 135 (27 x CHF 5). All currencies and all amounts are welcome.
Once I have completed my climb I will let you know just how high I reached (on tippy-toes, with stretched arms) and how much your donation works out to be. I would then ask you kindly to transfer the amount into my Nepal fundraising bank account in Switzerland. From there I transfer the school fees each year.
I strongly believe that education is the key to a brighter future. “Give a man a fish and he is fed for a day. Teach him to catch fish and he can thereafter feed himself and his family”. This will be my, and I hope our, contribution to the futures of Chotti and Tschering. Every single cent donated will go directly to benefit Dawa’s family.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, email would be the simplest (kathryn_crowther@hotmail.com). If you decide you would like to be part of my fundraising project, just let me know how much you would like to donate per 100m, the rest you can leave up to me.
I will sign off with a big THANK YOU to all of you that decide to support me and go out for a run in preparation…
A big hug to you all,
Kate
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