KATHMANDU: The 7 Summits Foundation has announced a charity event in the USA in a bid to support icefall doctors who are the backbone of Mt Everest climbing.

"On March 9th, 2024, the event presented by the 7 Summits Foundation and organized by K-King, 100% will support these unsung heroes, the 'Khumbu Icefall Doctors,' by providing comprehensive life insurance package and building huts to store their equipment," the foundation chairman AC Sherpa informed.

According to him, renowned artists including Prakash Saput, Roj Moktan, Subani Moktan, Anjila Regmi, Umesh Rai and DJ Tenjing will perform in the event Sherpa announced.

The Icefall Doctors have a vital role in setting up and maintaining the route through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall on Mt Everest. The Khumbu Icefall is one of the most dangerous sections of the Everest climbing route, located between Base Camp and Camp 1. It is a constantly shifting and crumbling icefall, filled with massive seracs (ice towers) and deep crevasses, making it extremely hazardous for climbers.

"Each climbing season, the Icefall Doctors are responsible for finding the safest and most efficient path through the icefall. They use ropes, ladders, and fixed lines to create a route that minimizes the risk to climbers. Additionally, they regularly maintain the route by replacing old ropes, fixing ladders, and monitoring the condition of the icefall," the 7SF added.

The work of the Icefall Doctors is crucial for the success and safety of climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest via the South Col route. Without their expertise and dedication, traversing the Khumbu Icefall would be even more perilous and potentially impossible. These Icefall Doctors are highly respected in the mountaineering community for their skills, bravery, and commitment to ensuring the safety of climbers. Although their work often goes unnoticed by the public, they play a vital role in making Everest expeditions possible.

The 7SF has offered an insurance package to all icefall doctors who are instrumental in making the summit of Mt Everest a success every climbing season. An understanding between the 7SF and Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has already been reached to this effect, according to Sherpa, who is also the Honorary Consul General for Seattle in Washington State.

The 7SF has agreed to provide funds to SPCC for procuring a comprehensive insurance package for all icefall doctors, which covers accidental death and injury, medical expenses, search and rescue as well as evacuation, Sherpa shared.

Earlier 2017, the foundation had offered Rs 100,000 each to the families of 17 Sherpa climbers who died in an avalanche on Mt Everest in 2015, as the massive earthquake shook the nation. The Foundation had also provided financial assistance to the Nepal Mountaineering Association immediately after the Everest avalanche.

"As a climber myself, it's my responsibility to give back to the community," said Sherpa, who has climbed mountains across all seven continents of the world. Sherpa has founded the Foundation with the aim of supporting the climbing community, women, and children in need.