Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Created by Sherpa Adventure Gear

100% of funds raised to meet initial $30,000 goal will support immediate aid in remote villages

KENT, WASHINGTON, USA and KATHMANDU, NEPAL—April 28, 2015— Kathmandu-based outdoor apparel manufacturer Sherpa Adventure Gear has created an earthquake relief fund called “Help Sherpas Help Nepal” to support aid to remote villages affected by the disaster. The fundraising appeal is on Crowdrise at https://www.crowdrise.com/helpsherpashelpnepal.

The company has committed to initially raising $30,000 through the campaign and 100% of the money raised will be dedicated to direct relief efforts thru Sherpa Adventure Gear’s existing network in villages, where the company underwrites the education of Sherpa children through its charitable Paldorje Education Fund.

In a letter from Kathmandu, Nepal announcing the fundraising effort, Tashi Sherpa, founder and CEO of Sherpa Adventure Gear, wrote:

Dear friends,

Thank you for your kind words following the devastating earthquake of April 25th. As we gather our wits and resources to respond to this catastrophe, here’s how you can take action.

Please visit the Sherpa Adventure Gear site at https://www.crowdrise.com/helpsherpashelpnepaland make a donation.

100% of your funds will go for immediate relief on the ground through our Paldorje Education Fund network—already set up to benefit the children of Sherpa families in remote villages. With each day, the death toll rises, along with the need for water, tents, and medicine. We believe this is the wisest way to bring support where it does the most good, working through our contacts in each community. This is not the kind of adventure anyone seeks, but we are determined to see it through, no matter how long it takes. Thank you for standing with us and giving what you can. Sincerely,

Tashi Sherpa and the Sherpa Family

Sherpa Adventure Gear has been inundated with concern, prayers and thoughts since the earthquake struck. The company and its facilities in the Kathmandu valley were spared the wrath of the earthquake, which has left thousands and counting dead and millions without shelter and basic necessities.

In an April 28th email from Kathmandu, Tashi Sherpa wrote, “Today is the fourth day and it is apparent the situation on the ground level is dire and desperately worse than what the media can convey. Sitting here in the Sherpa building creates a disconnect and a false sense of security but one only has to go half a mile to know the harsh reality.”

Sherpa and his colleagues are acting on the ground from Kathmandu to arrange for immediate supplies of tarps, water purifiers, sanitary supplies and more to be brought in from India by road. It has also appealed to its network of contacts in the greater subcontinent region to supply what they can in the way of urgently needed water, health and sanitation supplies and temporary shelter.

About the need in remote areas, Tashi wrote, “The village people are in desperate need of help now and later. The devastation in many areas is so complete that it will take years and years to recover and rebuild.”

“There is much we can do together to help,” he added. “We can reduce the pain of the present and help to ease the future for those who need to see hope.”

About Sherpa Adventure Gear

In the highest reaches of the Himalayas, the Sherpa people lead the world in mountaineering with warmth, grace and good humour. Tashi Sherpa—upon discovering that his uncle was on Sir Edmund Hilary’s celebrated 1953 expedition to the summit of Everest—founded Sherpa Adventure Gear in 2003 in this spirit, to honour his people by creating the best quality outdoor apparel made in Nepal. The company employs hundreds in Kathmandu and Nepal at its headquarters, stores and manufacturing operations. Marketing and North American sales and distribution is based in Kent, Washington. A portion of every sale benefits the education of Sherpa children through the Paldorje Education Fund, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable arm the company established in May 2012. For more information, visit http://www.sherpaadventuregear.com.

###

Media Contact:

Boo Turner, Footloose Communications

boo@footloose-communications.com

206.554.1596