I am raising funds to allow me to travel to rural Nepal and complete a charity trek visiting some of the poorest communities. I’ll be trekking up to 9 hours each day for 14 days and camping out at night. To do this challenge I’ll need to be physically fit so my training regime will include completing two marathons; the Slow Marathon in April and the Kiltwalk in June.

The charity I'll be trekking with and supporting is Himalayan Initiatives, a small Scottish charity whose aim is to support locally led sustainable community development in the harshest regions in Nepal. Their projects are driven by the priorities of local communities. Mostly this means helping to improve healthcare and education.

Following the 2015 earthquakes the priorities have been support for rebuilding homes and schools and a metal stove project. Most households cook inside their home on an open fire. The smoke filling the houses is the cause of considerable health issues including asthma, chronic obstructive airways disease and lung cancer. The new stoves direct smoke out of the houses and burn wood more efficiently. The stoves also keep the houses warmer - an important consideration at an altitude of above 2,000m.

Inadequate healthcare facilities and services are a major problem in many areas in rural Nepal. People may have to walk for days to reach a health post only to find it unstaffed, low on medical supplies or unable to meet their needs. Himalayan Initiatives have consulted and collaborated with communities in order to understand and address some of their healthcare challenges, including installing solar panels to provide lighting for the Birthing Centre and power for a vaccination fridge.

During my visit to Nepal I will gain insights into the challenges of living and working in this remote and impoverished region. Through direct engagement with local communities the funds raised will be contributing to ongoing and future community projects.

Thank you for your support,

Debbie