A climb of goodwill

TDT | Manama

His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has directed to form a team from the Royal Guard to train in the Himalayas Mountains in Nepal and deliver relief aid to the Sherpa community there to help them overcome the current difficult situation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).

His Majesty the King’s Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs representative, National Security Advisor, and Royal Guard Commander said that the Royal Guard is keen to ensure the best training opportunities for its affiliates in various countries, as well as deliver food supplies to the Himalaya people.

HH Shaikh Nasser pointed out that the expedition is being held in coordination with the Republic of Nepal and the Seven Summits Treks company, one of the leading climbing-expedition operators in the region.

HH Shaikh Nasser indicated that the Royal Guard team will undergo strenuous training to enhance their physical fitness, as the ultimate goal is to reach the summit of Mt Everest, the highest mountain in the world, at 8,848m or 29,029.30ft above sea level.

The Royal Guard expedition program includes two additional climbs to the Lobuche East mountain (6,119m above sea level) and Mount Manaslu (8,156m above sea level) over the next eight months to gain experience and be well-prepared for the final climb of Mount Everest in May of next year.

The Royal Guard team’s plans, however, have been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The team has been in daily communication with Seven Summits Treks so that they are kept well updated about the situation in Nepal.

Although Nepal has had a few COVID-19 cases, it was obliged to impose a lockdown, suspending commercial flights to the country until further notice. Given the fact that the Nepalese economy is reliant on its tourism/ climbing income, the lockdown and halting of flights due to the pandemic meant that the country and its people have had to endure a very tough time.

Taking the local situation into consideration, HH Shaikh Nasser and Seven Summit Treks are looking to donate food supplies to the staffers who find themselves isolated up on the Himalayan mountain range, with little access to basic supplies.

The rice and other food supplies will support the staff members and their families from the Sherpas to help them overcome this very difficult period. Commenting on this initiative, Nepali Ambassador to Bahrain Padam Sundas said: “It is an immense pleasure to learn that, under the patronage of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Royal Guard team is donating edibles to the Sherpas through Seven Summit Treks.

“I believe this humanitarian gesture of friendship and kindness bestowed upon the ones in need during such difficult and unprecedented times will be long cherished by the beneficiaries.”

Mingma Sherpa and Chhang Dawa Sherpa from Seven Summits Treks commented: “Our team in Seven Summits Treks is one family. After receiving news of a kind gesture from HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa to donate the food supplies from the Royal Guard team to the Sherpas, we consider Bahrainis as our brothers. “We at Seven Summits Treks thank HH Shaikh Nasser and look forward to seeing the Royal Guard Team very soon.”