The Apa Sherpa Foundation has been a long-planned dream and goal for the little man with a big smile, Apa Sherpa. It is finally a reality for this incredible mountaineer, and a celebration for the launch of this foundation will be held on January 25, 2013 at the Hilton in Salt Lake City.
Apa Sherpa is world renowned as one of the greatest living mountaineers. He holds the world record for the most summits on Mount Everest. The “Tiger of the Himalaya” topped his own record back on May, 11, 2011, when he made his twenty-first ascent of the “Top of the World” at age 51.
Apa is not only a living legend when it comes to mountaineering, but he’s quite an inspiration when it comes to overcoming adversity. Apa grew up in poverty and aspired to be a doctor. He struggled greatly to obtain a modest education, but an unfortunate tragedy forced him to quit school and work to help support his mother and family amidst difficult economic circumstances. Through his life experiences, hard work, tenacity, and amazing accomplishments comes the Apa Sherpa Foundation.
Empowering individuals throughout the world to follow the example of Apa Sherpa in overcoming adversity is the mission of the Apa Sherpa Foundation. The foundation seeks to build on Apa’s legacy by strengthening individuals where they live, beginning in Thame, Nepal, Apa’s home village and outward from there through three primary means:
1) Education of individuals based on the classical works of their culture
2) Promotion of economic opportunities for qualified individuals through community-generated projects
3) Perpetuation of knowledge through experienced individuals
The launch and celebration for the Apa Sherpa Foundation is sure to be a night you won’t forget. Joining Apa on this night will be Peter Hillary, author and climber, with his own strong ties to the Himalayan Highlands as his father is the late Sir Edmund Hillary. Hillary will take the audience on his many extraordinary experiences to the summit of Mount Everest, feeding a pod of sharks, and making a terrifying descent of K2 down a vast vertical rock face in a vicious storm.
Broughton Coburn, national bestselling author of six books (one being The Vast Unknown: The First American Ascent of Mount Everest), will also be in attendance. Coburn has worked in developmental and environmental conservation in Nepal and Tibet for two decades. He also teaches a summer college course in Khumbu.
This special event is one that you’ll definitely want to attend. To be in the presence of Apa Sherpa, a humble man and legendary mountaineer, brings a reverence and a respect that you just can’t explain. And that contagious big smile will have you grinning from ear-to-ear.
Tickets are available on the Web site for the Apa Sherpa Foundation. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 and keynote speakers at 8:00 p.m. All proceeds will be used to rebuild the Thame secondary school that was originally built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1963.
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