Vishu Sijali is climbing Everest so fellow Nepalis living with leprosy and disability can walk again, work again and hope again.

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Please watch our VIDEO in the 'gallery' section below or by copying this link into your web browser in a new tab - 

http://youtu.be/EZr1LVokU4M

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Why I’m climbing Mount Everest for Green Pastures Hospital

This April marks the culmination of my life’s efforts as a professional guide and mountaineer, as I take on the greatest challenge of them all… climbing to the summit of Mt. Everest.

The ‘Expedition’ business has been good to me and my family. It has provided for us and made me the man I am today. I’ve had incredible teachers, friends and trekking businesses support me throughout this journey, who are once again supporting me as I climb Mt Everest.

However, recognising that I have been given so much, I now want to use this opportunity to ‘give back’ to the country and people of Nepal.

Starting with this attempt to climb Mt Everest, I want to ensure everything that I do from now on has at its heart, my personal vision and desire to help other people in need.

Will you join me in this vision?

Why I chose Green Pastures Hospital

As I climb Mt Everest, I have decided to ask my friends, family and colleagues to ‘show their support’ by giving a donation to Green Pasture’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre. 

The hospital, which is only several kilometres from my home in Pokhara, Nepal, specialises in the treatment and rehabilitation of poor and marginalised Nepalis living with leprosy, disability or cerebral palsy.

I have seen poor people of Nepal receiving treatment which they would have never been able to afford. Their feet are washed with so much respect and compassion that hearts would melt. 

And the compassion and love is not all that compels me to help them. They are an incredibly reputable and trustworthy organisation. Green Pastures has been running these services since 1957, when it was first established by the the International Nepal Fellowship, Nepal’s longest-serving international non-government organisation. 

Leprosy has long affected poor and marginalised people of Nepal and our government has been unable to successfully treat it. But Green Pastures has improved the life of many people with leprosy and disabilities through treatment, empowerment and social inclusion.

Whilst Green Pastures was started as a Christian mission, I am not myself Christian but the way I see it is, they are above religion and above culture. The staff at Green Pastures (made up of primarily Nepalis with some expat technical advisors) offer their love and support regardless of patients culture, ethnicity or religion.

Why Mt Everest? And why now?

Whilst I have summited many of Nepal’s plus-7000m peaks, Everest is the prize for which all mountaineers strive to achieve. Therefore this journey for me is the fulfilment of a personal quest that begun as a teenager and now encapsulates the stories of myself and my closest friends who I have been on this journey with, some who are still with me and others who have left us whilst pursuing this same passion.

So would you please consider making a donation to Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in support of my mission to conquer Everest?

Thank you so much my dearest friends and family.

Vishu

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To give you an idea of the incredible difference your support can make:

• $16 can provide… A leprosy self-care kit - For training for a person affected by leprosy to learn how to care for themselves.

• $119 can provide… Two weeks of physio and occupational therapy - Restoring confidence and mobility for a Nepali patient.

• $239 can provide… One month’s specialist care in Green Pastures Hospital - A trained nurse to provide daily medicines, treat wounds and carry out tests.

• $341 can provide… A wheelchair for a person with a disability - Who would otherwise be unable to afford one, so that they can return home and regain mobility.
  

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For media requests, please contact Matt Darvas - matt.darvas@gmail.com

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Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.