Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I hope you leave this site with a better understanding of the challenge I will be taking March 2009, and the organization I am supporting (VSO). 

Since all donations go towards VSO, they are tax deductible, so please keep a copy for your 2008 tax returns.

Stay Tuned for Upcoming Fund Raising Events:

Only two weeks left til the TRIP!  Please remember that support is accepted by VSO through May for this Trek.  Thank you all who have supported my efforts on this worth cause. 

Blog: http://bethanyseverestchallenge2009.blogspot.com/ 

What am I doing?

Mount Everest or Sagarmatha (meaning: goddess of the sky) is situated on the border between Nepal and China.  It towers over the surrounding mountains at 29,035 ft.  On March 5, 2009 I will start the 7 day trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp at 17,600 ft.  We will have to stop several times to acclimatize and rest at 12,000 ft, 16,000 ft and finally at Base Camp for a couple days to view the magnificent South Face and summit Kala Pattar reaching 18,195 ft above sea level. On Average the temperatures will range from -10 to 10 degrees Celsius!  There is an average -1 degree drop in temperature per 450 ft in altitude gained!

As proven by history, some climbers have not made it to the top, being forced to give in to altitude sickness and/or exhaustion. I can’t make any promises, but with your support, I will make every effort to prepare myself for the climb and ensure that I can make it to base camp!

To See a Video made by last years group. Click on the YouTube link.

The itinerary:
http://www.vso.org.uk/accentureeverestbasecamp/challenge_itinerary.htm

Why am I investing time, money (and hopefully not my health) climbing to Everest Base Camp?
Not only will the challenge of this climb be personally rewarding, but it will also be financially rewarding to an organization for which am extremely fond and have had personal connections to: Volunteer Service Overseas (or put simply - VSO).

How can you support me on this journey and the VSO organization?
Providing cheerleading and the occasional neck massage during my training is certainly one way to support me.  But what about VSO...Collectively, you can support me and the VSO organization through an online donation...Small, large, or somewhere in between, every donation dollar counts and is very much appreciated. As for me, I too will be making a significant donation and financial investment to complete this mission…in total, the funds needed for this challange will be close to $15,000 (including fund raising).
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. Please forward this email to any of your friends or colleagues that may be interested in supporting and ask your company if they do corporate matching. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at bethany.mulhall@accenture.com

Many thanks for your support and I will look forward to providing you an update on my journey to the top of the world!

PS – For currency conversion rates, please visit www.xe.com. (The exchange rate is approximately $2 USD = 1 GBP).

What is VSO?

VSO Mission - VSO is an international development charity that works to achieve change for disadvantaged people in under-developed countries, with the current focus on six areas: education, HIV & AIDS, disability, secure livelihoods, participation and governance, and health and social well-being.

Volunteer Dependant - To chip away at reaching these goals, VSO relies on professionals from around the world to volunteer their time and skills. Instead of sending food or money, VSO sends women and men from a wide range of professions who want the chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. Since 1958, VSO has sent over 30,000 volunteers to work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Eastern Europe in response to requests from governments and community organizations. There are ~1,500 people actively working in placements in these regions today.

Successful - VSO's work in promoting innovative approaches to globalizing volunteering was acknowledged when they were voted top international development charity in the International Aid and Development category at the Charity Awards 2004.

Personally Important- VSO is an organization that I have seriously considered volunteering time to for the past couple years, and I have had friends take a leave of absence from the consulting profession to support VSO placements. Our world becomes increasingly smaller with each new advance in technology and communication. I believe it should be each individuals responsibility to seek to make an impact on the world economy and lives of it's people in a positive manner.  I seek to make an impact on cancer research and the education of less developed countries. I believe true change will take place in these places as tomorrow's leaders are allowed to learn from history and the world society.  The funds that we raise through this climb will go directly to the education programs in Nepal.  I am happy to be raising funds for a truly great charity, and someday hope to be able to contribute more.

To learn more about the organization, please visit their website. http://www.vso.org.uk/