Sherpa Adventure Gear, which makes 85 percent of its products in Nepal, launched a fundraising campaign on Crowdrise.com to raise money and relieve the suffering caused by the April 25 earthquake in its native Nepal.

The company, which makes 85 percent of its outdoor clothing in Nepal, has committed to initially raising $30,000 through the campaign and  pledged to dedicate 100 percent of the money raised will be dedicated to direct relief efforts thru Sherpa Adventure Gear’s existing network in villages, where the company underwrites the education of Sherpa children through its charitable Paldorje Education Fund.

“Through our contacts in each community, we will provide support where it does the most good throughout the long recovery,” reads Sherpa Adventure Gear's fundraising page. “This is not the kind of adventure anyone seeks, but we are determined to see it through. Thank you for standing with us and giving what you can. Your good thoughts and deeds make a real difference here.”

Sherpa Adventure Gear has been inundated with concern, prayers and thoughts since the earthquake struck. The company and its facilities in the Kathmandu valley were spared the wrath of the earthquake, which has left thousands and counting dead and millions without shelter and basic necessities.
 
In an April 28th email from Kathmandu, company founder and owner Tashi Sherpa wrote, “Today is the fourth day and it is apparent the situation on the ground level is dire and desperately worse than what the media can convey. Sitting here in the Sherpa building creates a disconnect and a false sense of security but one only has to go half a mile to know the harsh reality.” 
 
Sherpa and his colleagues are acting on the ground from Kathmandu to arrange for immediate supplies of tarps, water purifiers, sanitary supplies and more to be brought in from India by road. It has also appealed to its network of contacts in the greater subcontinent region to supply what they can in the way of urgently needed water, health and sanitation supplies and temporary shelter.

About the need in remote areas, Tashi wrote, “The village people are in desperate need of help now and later. The devastation in many areas is so complete that it will take years and years to recover and rebuild.”
 
“There is much we can do together to help,” he added. “We can reduce the pain of the present and help to ease the future for those who need to see hope.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign had raised $2,685.