Hari Budha Magar, the man attempting to become the world’s first double above-the-knee amputee (DAK) to summit Everest, has successfully arrived at Everest Base Camp.
Earlier this week Hari and his expedition team attended a traditional Puja (ceremony of prayer) to offer blessings for safe passage.
“It is an important ceremony for us as we ask for forgiveness of our presence on mother god of mountains (Everest),” said Hari.
“We are continuing our preparations now and look forward to the climb which we hope will be in the first or second week of May. We’re all feeling strong and are excited to head up the mountain.”
Through his expedition, Hari aims to raise awareness of disability and wants to change perceptions of what is possible, showing that with the right mindset everyone, irrespective of their disability, can climb their ‘own mountain’.
Hari, who lost both legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device while serving with the British Army, holds the world record for being the first ever DAK to summit a mountain over 6,000m. He hopes to push that record above 8,800m by climbing Mount Everest.
“I would like to give courage to others to climb their own mountain whatever that might be and follow their dreams,” said Hari.
“We can achieve anything if we have a positive attitude and the right mindset and adapt our life according to a particular time and situation.”
For Hari reaching the 8,848.86m (29,029ft) Everest summit will be the ultimate test.
The human body is not designed to operate at that altitude. Add to that his own challenges with reduced mobility and speed, and there is a whole new layer of difficulty to navigate. Hari is three times slower than able bodied climbers because his gait is so short. The longer the climb takes, the more chance something could go wrong.
After raising enough money to fund this epic challenge, Hari has now switched his fundraising focus to raise vital funds for five key charities – The Gurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Blesma, Pilgrim Bandits and Team Forces.
To support Hari’s Everest Appeal visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/harieverestappeal
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