Walkers do their bit to back Nepalese victims

Walkers do their bit to back Nepalese victims

13 May 2015

FROM sunrise to sunset on Saturday 131 people made the trek up Slieve Donard in aid of a special appeal for Nepal.

When they made it to top they tied a Nepalese prayer flag to the string of flags intended to show solidarity to the people 

devastated by the April 25 earthquake which killed over 8,000 people.

Almost £5,000 has been raised so far for the Disasters Emergency Committee by those who took part and made donations — every penny desperately needed for a country which only yesterday suffered another major earthquake.

One of the organisers of the ‘Slieve Donard: Dawn to Dusk for Nepal’ event, which saw volunteers sign up for a sponsored climb on the hour every hour, was local GP and keen mountaineer Dr Nigel Hart.

Nigel, who makes regular early morning trips up Slieve Donard, got to love Nepal and its “most kind and generous” people while climbing Everest on a medical research trip.

On Saturday he did the 5am and 8pm shift up Slieve Donard and in-between times greeted those taking part at the group’s base camp in Donard Park.

“We had both people experienced in the mountains climbing Slieve Donard and those doing it for the first time,” said Nigel.

“People came up to me and said: ‘Are you Dr Hart?’ They said they had read about what was happening in the Down Recorder. Some older people also came up to talk to us and to give donations.

“There was a real range of people there and a great sense of community. It was a very friendly atmosphere.”

Nigel said three Nepalese people living in Ireland also came to take part in the walk. Included were Roshan Rai and his wife Sarita who live in Kildare. 

“I met Roshan on Donard three years ago and we stopped to talk,” said Nigel. “I immediately knew that he was Nepali when he started speaking. We have remained friends since.”

For updates on ‘Slieve Donard: Dawn to Dusk for Nepal’ visit the group’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donard-Dawn-to-Dusk-for-Nepal/1149669328392850