Beginning October 27, Foundation friend and Highlands Park, Colorado search and rescue volunteer Gary Fraser will be undertaking an arduous journey to the base camp of Mount Everest in honor of Sophia Ruggieri, who tragically died from complications due to Type 1 Diabetes.
After a series of flights that will culminate in a white-knuckle landing into Lukla, Nepal, one of the world’s most dangerous airports, “Fraser’s Trek for Type 1” will cover 15 days of grueling climbs, with stops in multiple Sherpa villages as Mr. Fraser acclimates to the thinning atmosphere on his way to the Everest base camp at 17,600 feet.
“I am so happy to be able to honor Sophia and bring attention to this great cause by my expedition to the Everest base camp,” stated Mr. Fraser. “Sophia loved hiking, and I know that her spirit will help inspire me during this demanding journey.”
Proceeds from Fraser’s Trek for Type 1 will be used to support children and young adults battling Type 1 Diabetes, including by providing college scholarships and paid attendance at a specialized T1D camp.
To support Gary’s climb and help those with T1D, please click on the Give Lively link here:
Those who donate $100 or more will receive a commemorative “Fraser’s Trek for Type 1” t-shirt. To see updates of Mr. Fraser’s journey, please visit the Foundation website at www.sophiaruggierifoundation.org.
THE SOPHIA RUGGIERI MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The mission of the Sophia Ruggieri Memorial Foundation Serving Those with Type 1 Diabetes Inc., a 100% volunteer public charity, is to identify cost-effective ways to help T1D youth, and to provide such aid directly, such as through college scholarships, or indirectly through other 501(c)3 organizations.
The Foundation was established to honor Sophia Ruggieri, a Dacula, Georgia resident, loving daughter, sister and friend, who passed away from Type 1 Diabetes.
The organization’s inaugural and ongoing fundraising event, Sophia’s Stroll, is a testament to Sophia’s love for hiking the forests and trails of North Carolina, travel and exploration.
Each summer, the Foundation sends children to Camp Kudzu, a Georgia-based camp that for 25 years has brightened the summer for children ages 8 to 18 who have Type 1 Diabetes, where Sophia enjoyed volunteering.
At Camp Kudzu kids not only have fun, but they also get to learn important steps in dealing with this silent disease.
In addition, the Sophia Ruggieri Memorial Foundation awards college scholarships to students with Type 1 Diabetes and helps fund the provision of needed medical supplies and devices.
The National Park Foundation (NPF) today announced a historic $100 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
This transformative grant — the largest ever received by NPF and the largest grant benefitting national parks — celebrates a pivotal moment in safeguarding the future of America’s treasured national parks. …
Lilly Endowment’s grant will serve as a catalyst to scale and accelerate NPF’s impact. Working together with the National Park Service and park partners, NPF will allocate the funds to four key priority areas:
Inspire the Next Generation of Park Stewards: Creating opportunities for youth and young adults that will foster a deeper understanding of history, appreciation for environmental stewardship, and connection with our natural world.
Conserve and Preserve Threatened Parks and Wildlife: Addressing critical initiatives that will ensure the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and diverse species that call our national parks home.
Ensure a World-Class Visitor Experience: Securing a future where national parks can accommodate unprecedented growth and leverage new technology, while remaining accessible and awe-inspiring for all visitors.
Tell a More Complete Story of America: Delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative, including the experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story. …
To learn more about the National Park Foundation’s mission and donate today, visit nationalparks.org.
The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) Women Leaders on the Trail Campaign (GHT Women Leaders campaign) is a once in a lifetime opportunity to elevate the roles and status of female Nepali guides and porters in Nepal.
The campaign involves organizing a group of female Nepali guide(s) and porters to trek on the Great Himalaya Trail for 140 days beginning February until July of 2024.
This campaign is in support of the mission of the non-profit human rights organization, The Porter Voice Collective, which aims to advocate for the human rights of porters in Peru, Nepal & Tanzania via all forms of media and storytelling. …
That’s the title of a thoughtful article on National Geographic:
Part of the magic of trekking in Nepal used to be how easy it was to get started, but on 1 April 2023, the government imposed a radical shake-up of the country’s trekking rules. Whereas previously travellers could hike alone anywhere in the country, now they must hire a guide to walk through Nepal’s 12 national parks and six conservation areas, including the popular Everest Base Camp and Annapurna …
“For less-experienced trekkers, having a good guide can definitely enhance your trekking experience, but guides aren’t trained to a consistent standard in Nepal,” says Bradley Mayhew, author of Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya guidebook. “Encouraging trekkers to hire a guide by providing better-trained guides would be a smarter approach than forcing all trekkers to take a guide, regardless of their experience.” …
At the age of 18, Álvaro Silberstein had a tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
But his passion for the outdoors never died and years later, he made history while doing Patagonia’s most famous trek (the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile) in a wheelchair.
While founding the Wheel the World project and partnering with local tourism organizations, he started a real revolution of inclusive tourism in South America.
besthike.com 