Kathmandu, April 2, 2018: Samartha Nepal kicked off its first Impact Hike on 31 of March with 30 participants hiking around a 9km medium grade trail through Tamang Community in Shankharapur Municipality of Kathmandu. The hike was aimed at crowdsourcing funds for a series of awareness, education and screening programs on non-communicable diseases such as cancer, kidney diseases, chronic pulmonary conditions, etc.
“Samartha Nepal conducts such health awareness and screening campaigns through its program named Janata Clinic. With the first Impact Hike proceeds, we aim to work on breast and cervical cancer awareness”, says Dibyesh Giri, Co-founder of the organization.
The part
icipants of Impact Hike gathered early morning at the premise of Presidential Business School, Thapagaun for a quick breakfast after which they traveled to JaharsinghPauwa by bus. RajmanSyangbo, a local resident guided the hikers through a forest trail leading to ChihanDanda (Tamang Graveyard), which is the highest point in the area giving an all-round view of the mountain range, Kathmandu valley, and the entire Dhoksan-Kartike corridor. Proceeding down from ChihanDanda through Aalchour, the hikers reached Dhoksan where they visited the community school and hiked downhill to Kartike and back to JaharsinghPauwa. The hike was started around 7 am in the morning ended around 5 pm.
Besides crowdfunding for health campaigns, the Impact Hike also promoted hiking trails in the community with an aim to impact the lives of the local residents. The participants were guided around the community to exhibit the various small initiatives being carried out by the residents such as homestay facilities, brick factories, etc. Alongside helping the people become more aware on health issues and happenings in the community, the hiking event also created memories for the participants – allowing them to get directly engaged with the organization and cause they are supporting.
The Impact Hike team is truly grateful to all those who participated with enthusiasm and supported the initiative. The event was supported mainly by start-up companies like Smart Tech Solution, Khalti, Abari, IT Gamut, Amuse Media (Katha Haru, Kooky Dunk), Spiralogics Institute, Offering Happiness, etc. Academic institutions including Presidential Business School and National College joined in alongside Aavaran Skin & Hair Clinic and Vatika International Hotel. Nepal National Hospital, Kalanki supports the event as medical partners providing first aid support for hiking injuries.
GlocalKhabar and NayaPrahar played their roles as official media partners to spread words about the cause to a larger audience.
