Some people have the courage to carry on
A trip to Everest base camp to help people with mobility disabilities realize their dreams
2008 Everest Challenge Expedition
All donations are tax deductible.
In October of 2008, Linda McGowan and I will be travelling to Kathmandu, Nepal, with a seven member support team. From Kathmandu, we will fly to the remote airstrip at Luka at Lukla, where we will begin our trek through the hills of the Solu Khumbu up to the 19,500 ft (5950 m) level of Mt. Kala Patthar. This will be 2,000 ft (600 m) above Everest Base Camp at 17,500 ft (5,400 m) on the Southwest Face of the highest mountain in the world. The trek from Kathamandu to Kala Patthar and back will take between 18 and 21 days to complete.
What makes this journey remarkable is that Linda is a paraplegic (as a result of MS) and I am a quadriplegic and cancer survivor. Due to the nature of our disabilities, a team of individuals will accompany Linda and me on this expedition. Two firefighters, one of whom will lead the expedition, the other, a mountaineer, will support him, two caregivers, a therapist, a Sherpa, fourteen Porters, four Dzoichoiks (pack animals) and a helicopter will assist us in this endeavour. We will be using mountain hiking mobility devices known as Trailriders that will be on loan to us from the BC Mobility Opportunities Society(BCMOS). This expedition will be difficult and challenging considering the nature of our disabilities, the extremes in terrain, climate and altitude along with the unpredictable weather patterns that are present in this region of the Himalayas.
In the year following our return home from the successful conclusion of our expedition to Everest, Linda and I will give ten public presentations on this amazing experience. We will also continue to promote and help fundraise for this and future expeditions as the expedition leaders, Eoin White (founder of Sherpa Encounters), who has been successfully leading treks through this region of Nepal for several years and Erik Bjarnason, (founder of ‘Courage to Carry On’ ) who’s goal is to help people with disabilities realize their dreams of reaching the far corners of the earth, are both committed to repeating this experience for other disabled individuals.
As you can imagine, the cost of funding an expedition of this magnitude is considerable. Although the other five members of the team who are travelling with us from Vancouver are donating their time, as well as their energy, the high costs ($30,000) of paying for the other expedition expenses (Airfares, Trekking, Sherpa, Porters, Dzoichoiks & a Helicopter) are beyond the financial resources of either Linda or me. In order to overcome the financial constraints of mounting an expedition of this nature, Linda and I are actively seeking sponsorship and donations. As well, we will be hosting several fund raising events in the months leading up to our departure. Our next fundraising event is scheduled for 5:00 PM Friday, September 19th, at he Vancouver Shark Club, located at 180 West Georgia Street in Vancouver.
For those wishing to make a monetary donation to our expedition, we have created a secure and straightforward process of doing so on the Web. Online donations can be made at anytime through the BC Mobility Opportunities Society’s (BCMOS) Website. Individuals wishing to aid in our expedition with a Tax-Deductible Donation can visit the Canada Helps BCMOS page, remembering to cite Everest 2008 in the messages/instructions box, to ensure the donations are properly allocated, by clicking here to be taken through to the BCMOS page.
Other individuals may prefer to contribute in different ways. As you would expect, an expedition of this scope requires not only monetary funds but also appropriate equipment that will ensure safe and trouble-free travel in Nepal. Some may therefore wish provide sponsorship or support to our endeavour by furnishing equipment or services that are either needed by the expedition or that could be used as gifts in our fundraising efforts.
In return for sponsorship, we would be more than happy to publicize the role the sponsor has taken in making our expedition possible, in all of our public presentations and media communications. We will also produce a photographic record of the expedition for our public presentations as well as for our sponsors. Furthermore, we expect our expedition will generate considerable media exposure as four television networks have already interviewed and filmed Linda and me in anticipation of this adventure and that media interest will only increase as we near our departure. Linda and I would very much like to tell the public about the individuals, groups and the corporations who are helping us live this ‘Dream Come True’ experience.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, Doug can be contacted by phone at 604-731-5887 or by e-mail at, DouglasReid@Telus.Net . Linda can be contacted by phone at 604-526-4431 or by email at Lin@Shaw.ca .
Yours truly,
Doug Reid & Linda McGowan