8 Bruneians are going to scale Mt Everest

[aman]

Cool. Our proud men.

[BruneianDollar]

Are they men? Or more women? Sorry I didn't read the news nor heard it so I am not sure.

[aman]

The eight-man team of Bruneians that will be scaling to another historic milestone of the country's achievements by heading for the Everest Base Camp to undertake a charity project, in the hope of raising $50,000 to facilitate better housing conditions for the poor community in the country.

The charity project comes with the support of the Community Development Department (JAPEM), Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports during yesterday's official launching at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, by Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Jumat.

The country's Everest pioneers will be led by the President of the Brunei Chess Federation (BCF), Hj Mohd Zainal Hj Mohd Ali, who is also the Deputy Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum.

The BCF President stated that their charity expedition is one of the voices in line with His Majesty's call to eradicate poverty in the country by 2035 through their efforts of undertaking the first ever Bruneian team to one of the most extreme locations in the world.

"The BCF believes that the proceeds from this project could further increase the National Welfare Fund and in some small measure support JAPEM in rehabilitating or rebuilding the houses of the less fortunate, which would directly improve their quality of life."

The eight-man team that consists of Bruneian Chess players will see the team trekking across Nepal by starting off in the town of Lukla from which they would ascend 60km to the Everest Base Camp, 5,639 metres above sea level, and then make the return to Lukla.

Hj Mohd Zainal explained that in order to prepare for the trek up to the Everest Base Camp, which is higher than the peak of Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,100m, the team had already planned and trained for more than a year.

Prior to this, he added, the group also set its sights on climbing Mt Kalapatar, whose summit stands at 5,540 metres. From the summit, it provides the most accessible point to view Mt Everest from base camp to the peak. This summit also set the scene in December 2009, when Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal and the Nepali Cabinet held a short cabinet meeting as a response to climate change. The 120-km expedition is expected to take 16 days from April 23 until May 9.

"We will face several challenges, especially that presented by high altitude sickness or 'Acute Mountain Sickness' due to lack of oxygen pressure at the heights that will be traversed. This will be further complicated by the topography of the terrain of the path that leads to the Everest Base Camp that will also present another major challenge for charity trek," said Hj Mohd Zainal, adding: "But if we succeed, it would be the first team from Brunei Darussalam to set foot at the Everest Base Camp."

The BCF President also revealed that the team would also be holding a chess tournament "that can be regarded as the world's highest chess game tourney ever".

The proceeds collected for their Everest charity trek will go to the National Welfare Fund, in which 100 per cent of the proceeds will be allocated to rebuild the houses or rehabilitate the less fortunate families in the country.

Donations during the 'Everest Trekking Amal' can be made via short message service (SMS) or directly to JAPEM or by cheque payable to 'BCF Trekking Amal' at all HSBC banks. For the first time ever, the public can also donate online through www.trekkingamal.com.bn.

The website will also display the latest tally of the total amount of the funds collected where donors can also leave messages or comments for the expedition team on the website. The charity project aims to collect a total of $50,000 and the public is welcomed to make donations through the specified methods.

Source: brunei-online.com

[aman]

They are only going to the base camp (5364m), not the summit (8848m). Good luck to them.