Climber Alex Gavan kick-starts "Joy for Nepal" fundraising campaign

Romanian climber Alex Gavan, who has six eight-thousanders under his belt, kick-started this Tuesday a fundraising campaign for post-disaster intervention and reconstruction in quake-stricken Nepal, dubbed "Joy for Nepal."

Climber Alex Gavan participates in the press conference for the launch of the "Joy for Nepal" fundraising campaign
Photo credit: (c) Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES PHOTO

''It is a project that opens a perspective towards the future, amid the rubble and suffering in Nepal. We help the people there rebuild their lives and rediscover the joy of living," said Alex Gavan.

Cristian Lascu, editor-in-chief of the National Geographic Magazine ? Romania, attends the press conference for the launch of the "Joy for Nepal" fundraising campaign
Photo credit: (c) Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES PHOTO

The campaign will be running for seven weeks and nine days, a figure corresponding to the magnitude of the first earthquake that ravaged the country on April 25.

At that time Alex Gavan was at the Everest Base Camp, preparing to scale the 8,516m-high Mt. Lhotse.

''I was inside the tent, resting between two trips. I was in the sleeping bag when the glacier began to tremble. The next second I dashed out of the tent and saw the avalanche crashing down towards me ? a huge white wall. In the next 24 hours we had our hands full coming to the rescue of those caught under the snow,'' said the experienced climber.

He continued: ''What left a bad impression on me was that many were taking pictures, instead of extending a helping hand. There are people out there who have nothing to do with sports, with performance."

Referring to the high toll of dead and wounded, Gavan said that this prompted him to think of a way...