KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Trailblazing mountaineer Nims Purja has set his sights on an ambitious new project – completing the 14 Peaks for the third time, making him the first person to ever do so.
He will aim to complete the final 8,000m mountains this year to set the new record. And 100% of all funds raised through donations and sponsorship, will go to support the philanthropic Nimsdai Foundation.
A mountaineering first for charity
Founded by Nims in 2022, the charitable Nimsdai Foundation’s purpose is to ‘Change Lives, by Redefining What is Possible’. Through projects that Inspire, Educate and Protect, the Foundationempowers communitiesand provideslife-changing opportunities – like rehabilitative veterans climbing grants and building a new Porter’s House on the Everest Base Camp trail.
Mountaineer Nirmal Purja bags four GWR awards
Nims Purja in a statement said the aim of the new record is to raise donations and sponsorship of £1,138,000 – this is the total elevation in ft of the completed hat trick of summits. These funds will ensure that the Nimsdai Foundation can continue to deliver critical initiatives that will transform lives.
“This year, I am standing on the edge of a dream — a dream that has been built through the relentless pursuit of the impossible. This year I am attempting to complete a hat trick of summits, summitting the 14 highest peaks above 8000m,for a third time.This hat-trick will be a world first – I will be the only person to do the 14 Peaks three times and the 7 Summits too,” said Nims, a former Gurkha and UK Special Force.
“But I know that no mountain is ever truly scaled alone. When I first set out to climb the world’s 14 tallest peaks as part of Project Possible in 2019, I was blown away by the extraordinary support from individuals and businesses like you that made that dream a reality.
“Now, as I push towards the summit of this new goal and attempt to complete thishat trick,I find myself reflecting on the love and support you have always given me. As I attempt this new challenge, I am seeking your help again. However, this time I ask not for myself, but for your support of the Nimsdai Foundation.”
‘Together we make the impossible, possible’
Famous for completing the 14 Peaks over 8,000m in 6 months and 6 days in 2019, Nims also led the Nepalese team that first summitted K2 in Winter in January 2021. Last year, he became the fastest person to summit the 14 Peaks without use of supplemental oxygen in just 2 years 4 months and 28 days. This feat meant Nims also completed both the 14 peaks with and without supplementary oxygen in just 5 years, 5 months and 12 days ( April 23, 2019 to October 4, 2024.)
Nims said that with the support of the mountaineering community, sponsors and supporters, the challenge would be able to the leave a lasting legacy in the mountains through the work of the Nimsdai foundation.
He added: “With your support of the Nimsdai Foundation, I know that every step I take up the mountains, will bring inspiration. Your donation will bring us closer to reaching the peak of this ambitious funding target, and support projects like the Big Mountain Clean Up, and our education projects for years to come.Your generosity will make a lasting difference and have a real impact to those who need it most.
“I know the path ahead will not be easy — climbing these peaks, and tackling thesedifficult challenges is never without its struggles. But together, we are unstoppable. Let’s show the world that no summit is too high when we stand together,” he added.
Nims Purja has invited all those interested to donate for the cause to the Nimsdai Foundation and the Hat-Trick project via https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TRJLBH4Y65HXE
