About me:

Hi, I am Anya Sirimalle. I live in San Mateo, California. I am a 13 years old teen planning to go on a 9-day challenging hike to Everest Base Camp (EBC) from Kathmandu, Nepal, in October 2022. I am fortunate to have this opportunity to hike the Everest base camp with my dad to raise funds for Vatsalya Trust, a charitable organization based in Mumbai. More on this is below.

I want to thank my dad for getting me into hiking and encouraging me to do longer hikes. He also motivated me to do the EBC hike as a fundraiser, helped me set it up, and tell the story. My Mom has been helping me prepare for the big hike by instilling discipline to practice, providing nourishment, and getting all the essentials for my upcoming hike in October. Finally, my twin brother is encouraging me from the side and rooting for me in his ways. I also want to thank my parents' friends and hiking buddies who constantly cheer me on and believe in me. I feel no dream is too small; it all starts with a tiny step.

About the hike:

I will start from Lukla, Nepal, on Oct 6th, 2022 and reach Everest Base Camp, an elevation of 17,598 feet / 5364 meters, after nine days. The most challenging part of this hike will be getting adjusted to the altitude where the air is thin. I have been training for over two years by doing local hikes (10-15 miles, 2000-3000 feet elevation gains) and running every morning for 30 minutes. This August, I summited Mt Dana in Yosemite, at 13061 ft (1863 meters) elevation, which gave me a taste of what it will feel like as the air starts thinning out with a higher altitude. It was the toughest hike I ever did, but I didn't give up.

Why this fundraiser:

My goal with this fundraiser is to raise funds for Vatsalya Trust, a charitable organization in Mumbai. The Trust's main objective is to care for, protect and empower disadvantaged and deprived members of society, particularly caring for orphans, destitute children, and marginalized unskilled youth. More about Vatsalya here.

Over the years, Vatsalya Trust has helped more than 1200 children find an adoptive home, providing housing, education, and training for those under their care. The money I raise will go to Vatsalya Trust through India Development Relief Fund (IDRF), which will be used towards all the programs the Trust runs to help those under their care.

No donation is too small, and I am very grateful for whatever amount you may wish to donate to this cause I am supporting. All the money you donate will go to Vatsalya Trust via IDRF.

Thank you for your support. Your donation encourages me to keep going and enables me to make a difference.

More about Vatsalya:

p.s: (from Dad): Since this is set up as a personal fundraiser, the individual donation amounts will not get a receipt from IDRF. Please consult your tax advisor if they accept GoFundMe receipts for tax deductions.