The Juniper Fund

For every $1 that is donated to The Juniper Fund through this GoFundMe, we will attempt to clean up 1 pound of trash during Ryan Mitchell and Justin Sackett's ascent of Mount Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen!

Using the money donated, we intend to remove as much garbage in the Mount Everest region as possible, and support high altitude workers through The Juniper Fund's programs!

The Juniper Fund

The Juniper Fund supports the families of high-altitude mountain workers in the Himalaya after a fatal accident has occurred. When a worker dies on the mountain, their family often loses its primary source of income overnight, with limited social or governmental support available. The Juniper Fund provides cost-of-living grants and long-term assistance to help surviving family members meet basic needs and build sustainable livelihoods, offering stability and dignity during an incredibly difficult transition.

Alongside this support, The Juniper Fund works to prevent future loss through education and training. One of The Juniper Fund's core programs is the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC), dedicated to professional development for Nepali climbers and high-altitude workers. Through technical climbing instruction, rescue training, safety education, and language skills, KCC helps strengthen competence, preparedness, and decision-making in the mountains.

Together, these efforts reflect The Juniper Fund's commitment to honoring lives lost while working toward a safer future for the next generation of climbers.

Banner Incentive

To create some fun competition, the #1 donator will be able to put whatever they would like on a banner! We will bring this banner up as high as we can, ideally, that being the summit. The banner will be shown on video for the millions of watching to see! (Must be safe and non-offensive.)

Additional Information. READ BEFORE DONATING!

Please understand that removing trash from these regions and environments is a complex and difficult task. Depending on how much money is raised for The Juniper Fund, cleaning up that much trash in a single season may be unfeasible. We will try our absolute hardest to meet the goal, even if that means coming back!

Because GoFundMe has a $5 minimum donation, contributions start there. We're so grateful you all are supporting The Juniper Fund and our goal of cleaning up Everest!

I'm riding my bicycle from Mongolia to Spain, and while doing so I hope to raise money for The Juniper Fund, a charity that supports and empowers families impacted by the loss of Himalayan high-altitude workers in mountaineering accidents.

The Juniper Fund's 2022 Mt. Rainier Fundraising Climb

Every year climbing accidents happen in the Himalayas, and when a high-altitude worker (climber, sherpa, porter, cook, etc...) dies in an avalanche or other accident, a family suddenly loses their breadwinner. The family left behind is not only struck with the reality/grief of tragically losing their loved one, but now also find themselves in an extremely disadvantaged situation financially. The Juniper Fund provides cost-of living grants, vocational training, and business grants to help empower families to create sustainable businesses to replace the lost income of their loved one. To learn more about all the great work The Juniper Fund does please visit their website.

100% of the donations in this GoFundMe go directly to the Juniper Fund, even the smallest amount will make a tremendous difference in the lives of widows and children facing an impossible new reality- thank you for your donation!

A huge shout out to Big Agnes for selecting my trip as the 2023 Bob Swanson Memorial Grant winner and for the first donation to this GoFundMe. Thank you Big Agnes! If you're interested in following along with my bike trip you can do so here: www.pedalingwithpete.com

The allure of the mountains is undeniable, captivating adventurers from around the world. Yet, they remain unpredictable and unforgiving.

Every climbing season Himalayan high-altitude workers, just doing their jobs, are lost to the mountains. When this tragically happens the family left behind are not only struck with the reality and grief of losing their loved one, but also find themselves in an extremely disadvantaged situation financially.

This is where The Juniper Fund steps in, providing cost of living grants, vocational training, and business grants to help empower families to create sustainable businesses to replace the lost income of their loved one.

In over one hundred years of Everest expeditions, a third of all deaths belonged to Sherpa. So I'm fundraising this year to highlight the debt my fellow climbers and I owe the Himalayan high-altitude worker community, and to raise the profile of a charity very close to my heart.

To learn more about all the great work The Juniper Fund does, please visit their website.

Thank you for your support!