KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 21

Kathmandu-based Elite Himalayan Adventure Pvt Ltd has provided financial assistance of Rs 100,000 to the family of Prema Rogu, a 19-year-old resident of Mahalaxmi Municipality-2 in Dhankuta district who is battling a rare bone marrow disease.

Upon learning about Prema's condition and the financial challenges faced by her family through a news story published in The Himalayan Times, famed mountaineer Nirmal 'Nims' Purja, who also owns Elite Himalayan Adventure, offered Rs 100,000 for Prema's treatment.

Prema, a Bachelor of Science degree student, is undergoing treatment at the civil hospital in Kathmandu. Her medical care has been interrupted due to shortage of funds.

On behalf of Nims, Director at Elite Himalayan Adventure Mingma David Sherpa handed over cash to Bishnu Kumar Rogu, Prema's father. 'After reading the news in THT, Nims took initiatives to provide financial aid for Prema's treatment through the Elite Himalayan Adventure,' Sherpa, who is also a record-holding climber, shared.

THT covered a news story about Prema's health condition on December 4. Doctors said that the family needed to spend at least Rs 10 million to treat the patient. Leukemia has now been spreading to the bone marrow rapidly, as per the doctors. Microscopic examination indicated that hypercellular marrow showed predominant blast with high N:C ratio.

Prema's father Bishnu thanked Nims and Elite Himalayan Adventure family for their heartfelt support. 'Their support means a lot to our family as we are struggling hard to manage a hefty sum for Prema's treatment,' he said.

Nims first hit the public spotlight in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world's 'Death Zone' peaks in just six months and six days. His incredible journey was captured in the 2021 Netflix film '14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible'.

Born in Nepal, Nims had a distinguished 16-year military career, of which he spent six years as a Gurkha and 10 years with the UK Special Forces. It was during this time he developed an interest in mountaineering that quickly turned into a passion, accumulating an ever-growing list of record-breaking summits alongside many high-altitude rescue missions.

Nims also holds the greatest number of successful summits over 8,000meters in the history of extreme high-altitude mountaineering with a total of 43. He also led the first winter ascent of the 'Savage Mountain' K2 – together with the ten-strong Nepal team they walked arm in arm to the summit, singing the Nepalese national anthem. Inspired by Nims, Drake recently introduced a new Nike NOCTA 8K Peaks apparel collection. Today Nims is celebrated as one of the greatest climbers of his generation. Nims has also set up 'Nimsdai Foundation' to help give back to the mountain communities of his homeland. The Foundation plans to build Porters Lodge for over 100 people in Lobuche in 2024.