Troy Shantz Would you climb a mountain for a cause you believe in? Various Sarnia adventurers have been doing just that since 2009, joining expeditions to far-flung places to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Troy Shantz
Would you climb a mountain for a cause you believe in?
Various Sarnia adventurers have been doing just that since 2009, joining expeditions to far-flung places to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
“There’s obviously a group of people out there that want to do something that’s life challenging, like climb a mountain,” said executive director Mike Hurry.
This year’s expedition to Nepal not only allowed would-be mountaineers to ascend 17,500 feet to the base camp of Mount Everest, but also to recognize the devastation a recent earthquake inflicted on the region.
The 7.3-magnitude quake on April 25, 2015 left more than 9,000 dead, 20,000 injured and 800,000 homes damaged or destroyed.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters first organized a trip to the region in 2011, and when they returned this fall participants were shocked to find its ancient temples had “just crumbled,” Hurry said.
Visiting the area again was a way to inject money into the economy, which is largely reliant on tourism, he said.
Nine travellers made the trek with eight ascending to base camp, and four visited villages damaged by the quake.
“These trips are like that, in that you’re opening up people’s eyes to something that’s totally out of their normal realm.”
This year’s expedition also raised $117,000 for Big Brothers-Big Sisters.
