Story
You helped Nirmala take the next step. Now help her bring others with her.
Nirmala Bhandari grew up in Kathmandu in a children’s home for young people living with disabilities. Whilst she lost both her parents and her leg at a very young age, she never lost her determination. Against the odds, she became a national para-athlete and is now the founder of the Nirmala Foundation - an organisation led by lived experience, working to create opportunity, visibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in Nepal. Her mission is simple but powerful: to ensure no one with a disability is left behind.
In 2025, thanks to generous support from clients, friends, and partners, Step Three led a campaign to raise over £30,000, enough to bring Nirmala to the UK for a new high-performance prosthetic leg. It was a huge milestone, and a step towards her dream of one day trekking to Everest Base Camp.
That dream is still alive, but rehabilitation has taken longer than expected. Learning to walk again on a new prosthetic is no small thing. Nirmala has shown extraordinary strength and patience as she continues to work closely with her prosthetics team at Ottobock. She’ll return to the UK later this year for further follow-up treatment.
But in the meantime, Nirmala hasn’t paused her work.
What’s Happening Now
With the help of a small local team, Nirmala is steadily growing the Foundation’s impact. Current initiatives include:
• Producing a growing podcast called “Voice and Visibility”, sharing disabled voices and lived experiences
• Supporting inclusive sport programmes, including wheelchair basketball and amputee football
• Delivering education and awareness sessions in schools
• Running community outreach and advocacy initiatives
She’s doing this with barely any resources - just passion, persistence, and a belief in what’s possible when disabled people lead the way.
Why We’re Fundraising Again
We’re now aiming to raise £15,000 to support the Foundation’s core running costs for the year.
This funding will help sustain and grow its work, covering coordination, outreach, programme development and the needs of the local community. Put simply, it will support the steady, long-term work that makes real change possible.
Why It’s Worth Supporting
The Nirmala Foundation exists because one woman refused to let her story be the end of the story for others.
This isn’t just about Everest. It’s about every day. It’s about making space for voices that are too often unheard, and showing what’s possible when people lead from lived experience.
How You Can Help
Donate once, or give monthly - whatever you can manage. Every contribution, large or small, goes directly to the Foundation’s work in Nepal.
Transparency
All funds will be held and managed by New Futures Nepal (UK Registered Charity 1142984), the Foundation’s UK partner, to ensure transparency and tax-efficient giving.
Learn more at: