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Remarkably Human in Nepal

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TO THE REMARKABLY HUMAN FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

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A mere few weeks ago, I returned from an extraordinary adventure deep into the Khumbu region of Nepal. My trip took me from Kathmandu all the way to Mt. Everest and back. I met extraordinary people, persevered in challenging conditions and witnessed the most breathtaking beauty. I grew emotionally and spiritually, made many lifelong friends, and even got engaged to the woman I love during our high-altitude adventure.

Nepal changed me in direct proportion to the size of its glorious mountains, the largest in the world.

DEVASTATION
This past Saturday, Nepal itself changed as it suffered the most devastating earthquake to hit the region in over 80 years.

An Australian friend that we trekked with commented that we missed being caught in the tragedy by a billionth of a nanosecond, geologically speaking. He reflected that we were unknowingly trekking on a hair trigger. And it’s true. It’s sad to see the photos of the places that we trekked, slept and dined; places that we broke bread with friends in joyous conversation; places where history has stood for centuries – all reduced to rubble. Mere moments after we were there.

We thankfully returned from our month-long adventure just in time, but many others did not.

Climbers and trekkers from all over the world are injured, lost, stranded and dead.

The local people – many of whom live in poverty under normal conditions – are fighting for their lives and the lives of their families.

History is destroyed.

As of today the death count has passed the 5,000 mark, mostly from Kathmandu itself, where search and rescue operations are still underway. The numbers will surely, and sadly, swell in the coming days and weeks, with many experts expecting the number to more than double.

Over half a million people have been displaced.

The most vulnerable villages are accessible only by foot (under normal circumstances) and word has yet to reach the outside regarding their situation. It’s estimated that over 80% of the villages in the region will have been entirely destroyed.

Mt. Everest, where we journeyed, experienced the worst tragedy in the history of the mountain.

It’s been hard to witness the devastation from afar, especially having just barely returned from our own life-changing experience. An experience that left us deeply connected to the region. I almost wish that we had been there during the quake, if only so we could assist in rescue and recovery. But we are not. We are safe in our homes in the United States as the region suffers.

A CONFLICT OF EMOTION AND LOGIC
I’ve struggled with the question of how best help.

While I would gladly set aside my responsibilities to fly back and volunteer, that is not in the cards, for even if I had expertise to lend – which I do not – it would be impossible to get to the region. Flights carrying aid workers and supplies are now being turned away, because the airport in Kathmandu can’t handle the load (Nepal is one country, with one airport, with one runway).

Financial support is always an option, but what difference would my small contribution make?

Having traveled in the region, I can confidently say that the difference it will make is enormous.

But more importantly, this is why I began building Remarkably Human. To join together a network of like-minded people, interested in doing the extraordinary.

And that’s you. You’re intelligent. Compassionate. Ambitious. And Remarkable.

NEPAL IS NOT JUST A COUNTRY. IT’S AN IDEA. A REMARKABLE IDEA.
Nepal needs our help. It’s obvious from a humanitarian perspective. But it’s also obvious from the perspective a Remarkable Human.

• Nepal represents the peak of human experience, human capacity, human ambition, and the human spirit.
• Nepal is home to the world’s highest peaks, which serve to challenge us physically and spiritually.
• Nepal is a country of such unparalleled beauty that it cannot be properly communicated in words or pictures and must be experienced. A beauty that reconnects you to a rare sense of genuine awe.
• Finally, Nepal is home to some of the most naturally gifted superhuman people in the world. A people who work tirelessly at a level unfathomable by most Westerners, and do so humbly and happily. A people who inspire us all to be better humans.

And they need our help.

NEPAL NEEDS OUR HELP
That’s why I’m asking you today, as a community of incredible people, to help out by donating to the recovery efforts in Nepal.

I’ve set up a fund with GlobalGiving, a non-profit of the highest rating with Charity Navigator, to help support relief and recovery.

Funds will go directly to where they are most needed, beginning with relief and rescue.

However, I’ve chosen to work with GlobalGiving specifically because recovery is a lot bigger than just immediate relief. Recovery and rebuilding will take years, and GlobalGiving is dedicated to working with local expert organizations over the long term to send funds to where they are truly needed in Nepal, even after the initial relief efforts are concluded.

Please join me in donating to the rebuilding of this historic, majestic land, filled with a gentle people in desperate need of assistance. Every dollar you donate to the Remarkably Human for Nepal fund goes directly to the GlobalGiving Nepal Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.

You will be saving lives today and securing a future for Nepal’s tomorrow.

Thank you for being part of the community, and thank you for investing in humanity. We can’t change what happened, but we can most certainly build a better tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Roderick Russell

PS – Every contribution counts. No matter how large or small.  But you can make your contribution go further by signing up for a monthly  donation.  An anonymous donor is  matching all monthly donation, so you will instantly double your contribution.

PPS – Many companies will match employee donations!  Follow this link here, see if your company is one of them, and you can double or triple your contribution!

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