Kathmandu, May 28

A former UK Special Forces member, Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, has just returned from his first phase of Project Possible, climbing six of the world’s highest mountains known as the eight thousanders in 31 days in this spring season. In the first phase of Project Possible, Purja climbed six mountains with a target of climbing the 14 highest mountains in just seven months.

Purja climbed Mt Annapurna (8,091m) on April 23 and Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167m) on May 12. Similarly, he was successful in summiting Mt Kanchenjunga (8,586m) on May 15, Mt Everest (8,848m) and Mt Lhotse (8,516m) on May 22 and Mt Makalu (8,485m) on May 24.

Now, he is preparing for the second phase of his project. In the second phase, Purja will climb Mt K2 (8,611m), Mt Nanga Parbat (8,1260m), Mt Broad Peak (8,047m), Mt Gasherbrum I (8,080m) and Gasherbrum II (8,034m).

“Earlier when I announced my project, nobody believed me. But now I have been able to prove what a human can do if they are willing to,” said Purja, during a press meet organised here today. He further expressed his belief that his achievement has established a paradigm shift in the perception of human potential along with shedding light on the capabilities of Nepali climbers.

The major objective of Purja to initiate Project Possible is to raise funds for British Military and Nepali charity organisations that help injured veterans and children in need in Nepal.

Similarly, he also wants to make people of all ages aware about climate change and its effect on humankind through his project.

“Moreover, through this project I will be contributing to the government’s Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 2020 campaign to attract climbers to our beautiful mountains,” he said, adding, “My project will help VNY campaign to promote our mountaineering tourism.”

Purja, a permanent resident of Myagdi, is the first Gurkha to climb Mt Everest while serving the British Military and a current holder of multiple world records for the fastest ascent of double and triple header mountains in the higher than 8,000m category.

He also quit a prestigious job in the British Army to break more boundaries and help others move forward in their lives, realise their dreams and exceed their limitations. Purja said he has already re-mortgaged his Hampshire home to collect funds for ‘Project Possible’.

He spent 16 years in the UK military, 10 of which were in the secretive world of the UK’s special forces.

However, aiming to break the boundaries of human potential he left his service in 2019 and took the initiative to start Project Possible.