‘Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.’ 

- I Ching, 2,000BC

I have decided to do this trek as a means of raising awareness among my friends, family, and colleagues of the work of a charity called Women for Women International. This charity provides support for women in countries where rape and violence have been used as tools of war against civilians.

In my lifetime, soldiers in Bosnia, Rwanda, the Congo, South Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other countries have systematically raped and abused both women and men as a means of destroying the mental health and social fabric of communities. Hearing and reading about such terrible things as the rape camps during the Bosnian war has shocked me and left me in disbelief that such events can happen without the world’s intervention. Yet, rape, even out of the context of war, in some countries has become so commonplace that one might go as far as saying it was socially acceptable to rape a woman.  

Rape is a way of destroying a person without killing them. The raped person lives daily with the hatred of the act against them. They experience intense shame, humiliation and anxiety. Violent rape of women also often causes fistulas, internal tearing that cannot heal without surgery. The rage a victim experiences in reaction to the rape often gets turned inwardly, resulting in suicide, depression or other forms of mental illness. Worst of all, perpetrators of rape make victims and their families believe that the victim deserved it, causing them to lose all self-worth.

Frustrated by the fact that I felt helpless to do anything about this, I realized that I could, at least in a small way, by helping the women that have experienced violence and abuse rebuild their lives and communities. I believe that it is also important that we acknowledge what has happened and endeavour to value and protect women throughout the world.

I am trekking to Everest to enlist my friends and family in finding ways to help those who have been hurt by war violence. Women for Women International provides support for women and their families by helping them gain financial stability through education, helping them learn to value themselves as women by teaching them about their rights as individuals, and helping them form support groups to heal trauma and form communities.

 

Why Everest?

This is a spiritual journey for me. Mount Everest is called the ‘Holy Mother’ (Chomolungma) by the Tibetans and is a sacred place. I am going there to affirm that life is precious and to give thanks for all of the good people that have been a part of my life.

I have committed to raising £5000 by my birthday, the 21st of December 2012. The money that I raise will go directly to support the work of Women for Women. As part of my fundraising, I will run the Great Cumbrian half marathon on the 7th of October and I will be trekking to the base camp at Mt. Everest.

Any donation you make, however great or small, will be gratefully received!

Namaste.