Raj Everest Base Camp Trek for Two Good Co

I have some exciting news, and I was hoping that you could be a part of it, because it’s for charity, and one of the important causes we currently face in Australia.

In October of this year, I am going to undertake one of the most challenging treks on Earth. The walk to Everest Base Camp is a 14-day, eight-hour-per-day test of fitness and endurance that, at times, reaches elevations of 5,500m. This is a personal challenge that I’ve wanted to attempt for many years now, and I’ve spent the last couple of years getting myself in shape for this challenging hike.

This is one of those treks that come with stern warnings about not attempting it if you’re suffering any kind of medical ailment, and that you need to be in peak physical condition to attempt. It’s no understatement to say that it’s going to be one of the most difficult things I’ve ever attempted.

But the difficulty of a hike to Everest Base Camp is nothing compared to the hardships that victims of domestic abuse go through. Domestic abuse is an epidemic in Australia. On average, one woman each week is murdered by a current or former partner. One in four women experience emotional abuse by a current or former partner, from the ages of 15 onwards. A horrific 85 per cent of women have been sexually harassed.

Sadly, one of the biggest challenges we face in addressing this epidemic is in providing a supportive environment to victims. Many Australians end up homeless as they seek to escape a toxic home environment, and in going homeless these people experience a whole new set of hardships, on top of what they’ve already suffered. Some women find some comfort in accessing a women’s refuge.

This issue means a great deal to me, and it’s for that reason that I’m using the Everest Base Camp trek to partner with a wonderful social enterprise, Two Good Co (https://www.twogood.com.au). Two Good Co is one of those organisations fighting to give Australia’s most vulnerable women a safety net. For every meal or product that is purchased through them, they donate a meal to a woman’s refuge for domestic violence survivors. Additionally, they employ these women to make the meals for the shelters they serve and assist them in gaining a pathway to employment, through their Two Good Work Work program.

I am writing to you today to ask if you would consider sponsoring my crazy hike through the mountains of Nepal, with all proceeds going to a social enterprise doing some real good in society. All travel and associated hiking and personal expenses are self-funded. Any donation – large or small – would be most appreciated and would entirely go towards supporting this all-important cause.

As part of the trek, I will also be sharing photos and updates on social media and my fundraising webpage. I will also list all who sponsor the trek on the site as a way of saying “thank you” for your generous contribution.