KATHMANDU, MARCH 20
The 7 Summits Foundation has handed over the first year's insurance premium of the Icefall Doctors to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee as per the agreement signed between two organizations.
According to Tukti Sherpa, General Secretary at 7SF, the foundation's President AC Sherpa handed over a cheque of Rs 18 lakh to SPCC vice chairperson Dawa Gyaljen Sherpa in the presence of distinguished personalities including National Assembly member Sonam Gyaljen Sherpa and 7SF advisor Shyam Tamang.
The 7SF has already signed an agreement with the SPCC to cover the insurance costs of Icefall Doctors for four years.
Sonam Gyaljen Sherpa, an advisor of SPCC thanked the foundation for supporting SPCC by paying the insurance premium for Icefall Doctors. Icefall Doctors are responsible for clearing and fixing ropes to ensure the safety of Everest climbers each year. The foundation's support aims to motivate and provide security for Icefall Doctors during their rope-fixing duties.
AC Sherpa, President of the foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing the contribution of Icefall Doctors. With many famous climbers ascending Everest annually, AC Sherpa stressed the need to consider the future of Icefall Doctors, as they play a crucial role in making climbing activities safe.
"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," Sherpa said.
Sherpa also expressed gratitude to US Veteran Nepali Army and K-King Entertainment for supporting the project through the foundation by organizing a charity show in Seattle recently.
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.
