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Your invitation to join the 2016 journey to Everest with Eyes4Everest

Inspirational, Optometry

Following on from a successful 2015 trip to Everest, Eyes4Everest is looking for volunteers for its October 2016 trip. In 2015, the team of 5 optometrists and 3 assistants examined 472 children and adults. The outcome? 108 pairs of spectacles and 50 medicated eye drops were prescribed. On top of that 40 people were identified with vision reducing cataract.

How did Eyes4Everest come about?

Sydney Behavioural Optometrist Shaun Chang was captivated by Sir Edmund Hillary at a young age. So when he discovered that Sherpa children were having difficulties seeing the board, he decided to form Eyes4Everest – a charity dedicated to treating preventable blindness. Shaun aimed to follow the path of his childhood hero to provide health care for the Sherpa people whose selfless nature have saved many climbers from the mountains.

October 2016 itinery – optometrists

The 18-day itinerary for the volunteer trip in October as follows:

  • Day 1: Pre-Trek. Meet & Greet in Kathmandu (1330m)
  • Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2800m) then trek to Phakding (2610m) then continue to Monjo (2850m) (6hours)
  • Day 3-4: Eye Testing at Monjo (2700m) & Namche (3400m)
  • Day 5: Eye Testing at Namche (3400m)
  • Day 6: Namche (3400m) to Tengboche (3870m) 5-6 hours
  • Day 7: Eye Testing at Tengboche
  • Day 8-9: Tengboche – Dingboche (4,360m) 6-7 hours
  • Day 10: Dingboche – Lobuche (4,930m) – 6-7 hours
  • Day 11: Lobuche – Gorak Shep (5,288m) and Base Camp (5,360m) 7 hours
  • Day 12: Kala Pattar (5,545m), trek to Dingboche (4,330m) 8 hours
  • Day 13: Dingboche to Namche 7 hours
  • Day 14: Namche to Phakding (6 hours)
  • Day 15: Phakding to Lukla (2 hours)
  • Day 16: Fly out of Lukla to Kathmandu
  • Day 17: Explore Kathmandu – Cooking Class & Guided Market Tour
  • Day 18: Last day in Kathmandu – Thangka Painting Workshop

The principle purpose of Eye4Everest is to establish the first Eye Clinic to provide primary eye care in the Sargamatha (Mt Everest) National Park of Nepal. One of the Association objectives is to provide training and supervision in primary Eyecare to hospital staff, provide eye testing and medical care to promote the prevention or control of eye diseases, and apply the income of the Association solely to promote those purposes.

Go to http://eyes4everest.org.au/volunteer/#volunteer-itinerary for more details.

Trekking Challenge for non-optometrists

Eyes4Everest is looking for seven people to raise funds for eye care services in the region, and you don’t need to be an optometrist to join in! Anyone who has got the heart to help out will be taken on the trip of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp.

Learn to cook traditional Nepalese food, admire Sherpa artwork, capture the awe with your own photography, devour delicious Nak Cheese Fondue, and more!

The dates for the 2016 Trekking Challenge are 28th September to 15th October.

Want to know more? Here’s what Eyes4Everest have to say about the trip:

Please note that this is a fundraising project where you have the chance to give back to the Sherpa people of the Himalayas who have limited access to eye care. This is your chance to make a difference, accomplish the mental and physical feat of reaching Everest Base Camp, and gain cultural insight into the peaceful life within the mountains.

This is a different style trip compared to our alternative Optometrist Volunteer Program where eye testing is conducted, as no clinics are run during the Challenge. You are welcome to apply along with your friends or family through our online application form at http://eyes4everest.org.au/challenge.

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