Photo Courtesy @shaunstafford Instagram

Update! As of July 3rd, Shaun has raised just shy of $20,000!!

As a former competitive rugby player at Oxford turned World Fitness Champion and London-based entrepreneur, Shaun Stafford is no stranger to putting in the hard work to achieve one’s goals. His next challenge? Running in the 2018 Everest Marathon, notoriously difficult and the highest altitude marathon in the world. Shaun will be in Nepal at the end of May to compete in the marathon as a personal challenge, but also as an opportunity to give back to the people of Nepal.

After some research, Shaun decided to run this marathon to raise funds for HCC kids, supporting HCC programming for education and basic needs for orphaned, abandoned and at-risk Nepalese children. He knew HCC was the right fit due to HCC’s focus in programming and support because it was important to him “that the charity provides the basic elements to help people who need it most: food, shelter, and education are vital fundamentals for growth.” With HCC’s transparency in and dedication to using over 97% of funds raised to help those in need, Shaun knew that the kids who needed it most would be getting the baseline support to help them achieve their own goals and determine their own future.

To date, Shaun has raised over $4,400 for HCC with more being raised each day! To learn more about Shaun’s journey and why fitness and charity are so interconnected for him, check out our interview with Shaun below.

Note: Interview has been condensed and edited for length 

Photo Courtesy @shaunstafford Instagram

How did you first hear about Himalayan Children’s Charities? Were you looking for an organization specifically located in Nepal?

Yes. Doing an event in Nepal, I wanted to run on behalf of a charity based in the region I was visiting… and being a Dad myself, I really wanted to do something to help local children.

How do you see the link between fitness and charity? Why is it important to you to run for charity?

For me, doing something such as running the Everest Marathon gives an opportunity on several fronts. It provides an opportunity to push myself and see what I am really capable of when it comes to both a physical and mental challenge, but it also gives me an opportunity to shine a light and raise awareness of things outside of my conventional field.

Being involved in fitness is a lot about having a positive impact, and running for a charity helps to do this: it will hopefully be a vehicle to encourage others to attempt things they potentially didn’t think was possible for them, but also to actively and directly help other people who are potentially less fortunate.

An event such as this, and being involved with a charity, allows you to be a change for good both for yourself and for others which I think is an incredibly powerful motivation.

Photo Courtesy @shaunstafford on Instagram

How have you been training for the Everest Marathon? How are you preparing for the altitude?

I have been doing 2 runs per week, gradually increasing my distances, since January. I am also doing 2-3 weights sessions per week and spending 2-3 sessions a week in an altitude chamber. In addition, I have been doing some terrain running to condition myself to the race conditions. I think this will put me in the best position to actually finish the event (which is my only goal along with raising a lot of money for HCC)!

What are you looking forward to about visiting Nepal?

I am looking forward to some of the most breath-taking scenery and mountains I have ever seen, in addition to seeing and experiencing the Nepalese culture. I travel a lot and have always wanted to visit this part of the world. I have heard it is an incredible place and very spiritual: I am looking forward to seeing the relationship between the people, the culture and the environment, all set against an amazing Himalayan backdrop.

Finally, what advice would you give to someone looking to make a difference in the world but doesn’t know how to get started?

People often think that they need to “get their ducks in a row” or have the perfect preparation for anything to be effective. I think if you are really interested in making a difference, you just have to start! You don’t have to have a perfect vision and plan of how you are going to make a difference, just a drive and desire to see it through. You can almost certainly make it up along the way, and no one will even know!

Good luck Shaun! Congratulations on all of your hard work already. We are looking forward to cheering you on. See you in Nepal! To join Shaun and support HCC kids, donate to his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shaun-stafford1 and follow his journey on Instagram @shaunstafford.

The post Champion Fitness Competitor Shaun Stafford is Running the Everest Marathon for HCC appeared first on HCC Nepal.

An avid traveler, Tom is no stranger to leaving his comfort zone, but Nepal and Everest will be a first for him. However, this trip will be unique as it was originally conceived to be a celebration of Tom’s 65th birthday. In 1953, the year Tom was born, Sir Edmund Hillary hiked to the peak of Mt Everest, forever cementing his name into the triumphs of human history. After visiting 26 countries in his life, for Tom turning 65 needed to be something of personal significance. Combining the historical milestone with his personal one, Nepal was an obvious choice according to him because “it’s the adventure, it’s the celebration” of hiking Mt Everest.

However, Tom sought to find even more meaning in this trip, recognizing the “many blessings [that] have been bestowed on my family,” asking himself, “how do I use this in the best way possible?” Tom wanted to give back to Nepal, to the country and community that would provide him with this opportunity for personal adventure and celebration. In a place in his life where he can give back, Tom actively looked for organizations that would provide for the most in need Nepalese. After discovering HCC on Guidestar, and impressed by HCC’s high rating, Tom decided to donate to HCC because HCC “wasn’t the largest [organization], but perhaps the most deserving.”

Tom’s been prepping for his hike a year in advance because even trekking a portion of Everest is a huge physiological feat. He’s completing a steady regimen of cardio and wearing an altitude mask to increase his lung capacity, dropping 50 lbs so far in the process. He’s also prepping by getting the word out about his mission and inviting others to be a part of it by donating. He’s currently raised $1,600 and is expecting to receive north of $3,000 in donations. He’s making it simple for people of all financial means to donate and providing 3 tiers of donations to come with a digital photograph from his Everest journey. A $30 donation gets one photograph, a $50 donation gets two, and a $100 donation renders six photographs. Tom is still accepting donations, and any potential donors can message the whereintheworldiswat, which will document Tom’s Nepal trip. To see more of Tom’s photography, check out PVminer Pixs Facebook page.

When asked about how one could begin making a difference in the world, Tom suggested to “look for your passions,” when wanting to make an impact. Finding your own way in making a difference takes a “conscientious, cognizant thought process,” but Tom points out that “everybody has a talent.”  With a little bit of creativity, everyone can find a way to combine something they love with spreading love and care to someone in need.

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