SUPPORT ANGUS’S EVEREST SUMMIT ATTEMPT

AFTER a life time of dreaming about it, I am setting out to fulfill a long held ambition – to climb and summit Everest. I am determined that it’s not simply for personal gratification but also to benefit children in one of the world’s poorest countries Nepal, who face daily challenges to fulfill their potential.

On 31 March I leave for a 3 month expedition to the top of the World, Everest (8848m), via the technical Tibetan North Ridge, rather than the more common and busy Nepalese South Col route. For a decade I have shipped high-end yachts and motorboats around the world with Complete Freight. By selling the company and then handing over the reins at Peters & May, I have created an opportunity to focus on this personal challenge. However, I want to ensure that it is not ‘all about me’

Having trained intensively for 18 months and broadened my mountaineering skills on peaks in Alaska (6194m) and Nepal (6812m), my rigorous physical (and mental) preparation is nearly complete. Therefore I am now able to focus on how to say ‘thank you’ to the country and people of Nepal.

Nepal is visited widely by mountaineers and trekkers indulging themselves - people like me - but this land of dreams is a tough place to live. Nepal is very poor, ranking 166th out of 185 in the International Monetary Fund’s list of global GDP, causing children to have very low literacy standards. The country is in desperate need of aid and support, and I have thought long and hard of the best way to use my skills to personally contribute directly and effectively.

My answer lies in outdoor play – and so, in partnership with the British-based Pahar Trust (www.pahar-trust.org), & Nepal Schools Trust (www.nepalschoolstrust.org.uk) we are organising the installation of playgrounds in Nepalese village schools selected by the charities.

It is well recognised that outdoor playgrounds are invaluable to a child's health and long-term wellbeing but there are virtually none in Nepal. During the last year I developed the southern office of the Scottish timber playground manufacturerCaledonia Play, (www.caledoniaplay.com), and I have personally installed many of their fantastic units. There are many benefits of free and unstructured play whichextend well beyond childhood, no matter where those formative years are spent.

My aim is to raise enough money to install over 25 playgrounds in schools, by May 2014. The delivery of these playgrounds will vastly enhance the wellbeing and development of children and consequently the whole community.  I am asking for your help to make this happen.

The Nepali government endeavors to provide free education to all primary aged children but currently is only able to offer about half the funding, so villagers must find money for buildings and teachers.  Beyond primary school all education is community or parent funded.

The Pahar Trust Nepal (PTN) was established in 1993 with the goal of providing schools for over 10,000 children. The work of the PTN already benefits over 13,000 children opening a new school on average every 8-9 weeks. The PTN has also raised funds for, and co-ordinated, 23 associated projects including sanitation, health and housing projects. Additionally it runs a child sponsorship scheme with over 100 children and their families’ benefiting directly.

This is an opportunity to help and contribute not only to this fantastic playground scheme but to engage in the ongoing wellbeing of children, their future and that of their villages.

All funds can be transferred using Gift Aid boosting donations by up to 25%. Donations can be made:

-          though my Just Giving web page (a small fee applies)

Just Giving: http://www.justgiving.com/EVEREST-2013-PLAYGROUNDS-FOR-NEPAL

 

or by

 

TEXT: EVST80

        £(amount)

        To: 70070

or

-          directly to either charity (without any fee deductions) N.B. Please advise me if you donate directly so that the sponsorship can be allocated appropriately within the charity towards my project. Gift Aid donation forms are available.

I am fully funding my Everest climb so all donations go directly to the cause.