Everest Marathon Fund

The Everest Marathon is a charity race and one of the main reasons for organising the race is to raise money for various Nepalese charities.

To this purpose the Everest Marathon Fund was registered as a UK charity (number 1005422) to promote health and education in rural Nepal.

• Nepal is among the five poorest countries in the world.
• Rugged mountains cover 85% of the land and the country is virtually roadless.
• Travel throughout the hill regions is only possible on foot and all basic goods have to be carried by men or beasts.
• 86% of the population are subsistence farmers who live on small, terraced, family farms.
• 49% live below the poverty line, based on calories, not cash.
• The average annual cash income is only £125 / US $200.
• Many areas lack basic facilities like clean water, elementary education and medical facilities.
• The 10 year guerilla war with the Maoist party has resulted in severe economic decline which has affected the poorer people most.

We do not operate projects ourselves but give our money to charities which already have a continuous development programme. These organisations work at grass roots level with the involvement of the local people and spend very little on administration.

CHARITIES CURRENTLY SUPPORTED

Britain-Nepal Medical Trust: medical work in East Nepal, including community health and training with particular emphasis on women’s health, education and empowerment for minority groups.
Nepal School Projects: school construction, vocational training, water systems, trail rehabilitation and community health in the Mahabharat hills.
WaterAid (Nepal programme): clean water and sanitation in rural areas.
Namche Bazaar Dental Clinic: the highest dental clinic in the world also runs school fluoridation and education programmes.
Nepal Leprosy Trust: leprosy hospital and clinics in South Nepal, rehabilitation and community training.
International Nepal Fellowship: medical work in West and Far West Nepal including health posts, health education and a major rehabilitation centre in Pokhara.

We have also made ad hoc donations to:

• the Himalayan Trust Khunde Hospital near Namche Bazaar (medical equipment and supplies)
• Himalayan Rescue Association which runs a trekkers' medical post at Pheriche (medical supplies);
• Nepal Himalayan Guide Association for the construction of latrines in key sites in the Everest region
• Community Action Nepal / International Porter Protection for the construction of a porter health post in Machermo;
• Care UK for the construction of bridges in the Gorkha region;
• Help Nepal for a health post in remote Mugu.
• Nepal Leprosy Fellowship for a leprosy survey in Jhapa.

Over twelve races we have raised more than £450,000. The only administrative cost is the annual inspection of accounts for the Charity Commission.

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP

Money for the Fund is raised by individual runners. For those who wish to raise money for other charities, we ask that at least 50% of the money raised be given to the Everest Marathon Fund. A sponsorship pack and further information is supplied to all participants. Donations can be made online directly to the Everest Marathon Fund via the JustGiving website.

If you are seeking commercial sponsorship to help pay for your trip cost and equipment, this must be done separately from your charity sponsorship. If people give you money in the belief that it is going to a charity, you cannot use that money to help pay for your holiday.

The Everest Marathon is organised as a non-profit-making tour by Bufo Ventures Ltd which donates all 'profit' to the Everest Marathon Fund.

The generosity of people reflects not only their admiration for those who take part in one of the toughest races in the world, but also their concern for people in one of the world’s poorest countries. It is extremely gratifying that we can give some small assistance in return for the privilege of holding our races in one of the world's most beautiful countries.