Everest 2006: Everest Expedition to help feed the children of Nepal: Let's all Fight Hunger 2007!!

Update: Arrived safely back in the Du and was again swamped by the fumes, rubbish and chaos. For the first time I welcomed the urban mess. Immediately I was rushed to the WFP office where I was greeted and welcomed back by all of the staff. A great way to finish a long and demanding trip. It made all of the suffering worthwhile. The WFP Nepal team has been right behind me from start to finish. I must take this time to thank them for their support. Likewise to all of those who have helped me in the greater WFP, sponsors (in particular the Chaudhary Group), my family, friends, well wishers, other team members and of course Ingrid. Let's all Fight Hunger 2007!!

Update: Location: Kathmandu Altitude: 1300 metres
Arrived safely back in the Du and was again swamped by the fumes, rubbish and chaos. For the first time I welcomed the urban mess. Immediately I was rushed to the WFP office where I was greeted and welcomed back by all of the staff. A great way to finish a long and demanding trip. It made all of the suffering worthwhile. The WFP Nepal team has been right behind me from start to finish. I must take this time to thank them for their support. Likewise to all of those who have helped me in the greater WFP, sponsors (in particular the Chaudhary Group), my family, friends, well wishers, other team members and of course Ingrid.

Dispatches

Background: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest food aid provider. WFP is actively striving to ensure that the United Nations Millennium Development Goal, namely, the halving of chronic hunger world wide by 2015, is achieved. One such advocacy and fundraising campaign to assist WFP with its efforts is the Walk the World initiative.

This is a global event that involves groups comprising of civic organizations, corporations, other humanitarian organizations, Government members and the public at large, walking a short distance along a visible or prominent location within their local region. It is expected that Walk the World 2006, to be held on the 21st of May, will see over 750,000 participants walk within 100 countries across the globe.

In support of the Walk the World 2006, Mark Squirrell (Squiz) will climb to top of the world in order to raise awareness and funds for WFP Nepals School Feeding Programme. It is expected that Squiz, WFP Nepal’s Field Security Officer, will summit Mount Everest within days of May 21st. Although the expedition is not a WFP initiative, it is supported by WFP.

The culmination of preparation, hard work and physical effort will be realised in late May but the benefits will be felt by thousands of children for months to come.
 
Preparations are well underway. Squiz has recently conquered the arduous peak of Ama Dablam and is now gearing up for Mount Everest. Your help with the next journey would be much appreciated. Make a donation.

Update: On the way to Pheriche I met up with a few fellow members of the ICE8000 Everest expedition team. Great timing, as they were planning to head off the beaten track to visit a Tibetan Lama in order to get his blessings for our summit attempt. This traditional ceremony lasted about an hour and involved a lot of chanting, rice throwing and words of wisdom. Lama Geshe shared many valuable and inspiring verses, including the following request for all sentient beings on the planet:

Give up all intention to harm others from your heart And do your best to benefit them all If each and everyone feels the universal responsibility to do so, We will all enjoy the feast of peace!

To be continued....

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