Everest trek to raise funds for the charity he founded
A 73-YEAR-OLD island resident will be trekking to Everest base camp next week to raise funds for the charity he founded nearly 20 years ago.
Businessman Nick Cragg moved to Guernsey last year with his wife Marie and is the chairman of trustees as well as founder of Phase Worldwide – a charity that aims to prevent the poverty cycle in Nepalese communities.
Mr Cragg, who has never been to Everest before, is hoping to raise £30,000 from his trek.
He said now seems like the perfect time to take on such a challenge.
‘Times are very hard at the moment for charities and everyone,’ he said.
‘There’s also not long until I can’t do something like this.’
Starting from Lukla next Wednesday, Mr Cragg will travel as part of the Phase Worldwide Bristol to Base Camp 2023 Expedition for 16 days up to Everest south base camp.
The group will ascend to an altitude of 17,598 feet and face temperatures as low as -20C.
‘The cold and altitude sickness are going to be the biggest challenges,’ said Mr Cragg.
‘But I’m extremely excited, I love the mountains.’
Phase was founded in 2005 by Mr and Mrs Cragg, Dr Gerda Pohl and Jiban Karki after the group sat around a kitchen table, discussing how they could transform the lives of Nepalese Himalayan communities. Since its inception, the charity has implemented multiple healthcare, education and livelihood projects throughout some of Nepal’s poorest and most remote villages with a focus on empowering women.
‘There are lots of hierarchical problems and gender imbalances in these areas,’ Mr Cragg said.
‘Women don’t have voices so we aim to give them a voice.’
The charity’s current main initiative is called the Start Strong Project which is helping 1,000 vulnerable women by teaching new agricultural practices to reduce malnutrition and also improve maternal health.
It is running over a three-year period and is expected to cost £350,000. Money raised from the trek will be spread around the charity’s various projects as it aims to recover from a recent dip in annual income which was £560,000 in 2021.
n Anyone looking to support the cause can donate to the JustGiving page at bit.ly/427RgMF
