By Waleed PD Mahdini
A group of Bruneian adventurers are set to record further heights of history for both the country and themselves as they have set their sights to scale Mount Everest in the Himalayas for charity.
According to the Community Development Department's website, the launching ceremony of the National Welfare Fund will be officiated this afternoon at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, through an 'Everest Trekking' event. Members of the media have also been invited to this historic announcement, which had been broadcast on radio yesterday.
According to sources at the Brunei Adventure Recreation Association (BARA), they confirmed that a group of eight men will be setting off on foot for what has been called the 'Roof of the World' from the capital city of Nepal, Katmandu. From there they will begin their Everest trek from the town of Lukla, which is already perched at an altitude of 2,804 metres. This town is typically where climbers usually begin their ascent of the highest mountain on the planet.
The trek is expected to take them 16 days before they reach the South Base Camp of Everest, some 60 kilometres away and 5,360 metres above sea level.
It was also understood that this group of pioneers have quietly and determinedly already been training for more than a year, both locally and abroad with each member funding their training and the upcoming expedition themselves.
One of the particular dangers commonly associated with the Everest climb, they explained, is altitude sickness to which the Everest team members have also taken into consideration.
The National Welfare Fund was first established in September 2006, which was in part funded by donations from philanthropists. But as of this month, this new scheme will be fully funded by the government, which is set to provide a range of financial opportunities for reducing poverty in the country.
It has also been understood that these group of high-climbing achievers hope to add a further boost to the charity fund for those in need, as well as to add on the Bruneian flag to the array of other national flags that have been planted at the Everest Base Camp, in a symbol of the people's 'can-do' spirit.
Borneu Bulletim
