Nepal is a country in Asia with more than 26 million people, enough to justify at least over 100 radiation machines. Tragically, in Nepal there are only 8 of these life-saving machines, all working around the clock.
Radiating Hope has committed to help the cancer centers in Nepal. Unfortunately for Nepal, cancer remains and continues to be a looming crisis, and is a leading cause of death. As a nonprofit which uses climbing as a form of advocacy, Radiating Hope was quickly attracted to Nepal which is home to eight of the world’s largest mountains, including the biggest in the world, Mt. Everest. Draped all over Mt. Everest are colorful flags called Prayer Flags. Radiating Hope has adopted these prayer flags as a symbol for cancer patients globally. The prayer flags have a long tradition of representing strength, hope, and well-being for the people they honor. It is traditionally believed that as the mountain winds blow the flags, and the fragile threads drift away into the breeze, that each thread sends off a prayer of hope, strength, and well-being for the cancer patients they honor.
Radiating Hope has committed to help the cancer centers in Nepal. Unfortunately for Nepal, cancer remains and continues to be a looming crisis, and is a leading cause of death. As a nonprofit which uses climbing as a form of advocacy, Radiating Hope was quickly attracted to Nepal which is home to eight of the world’s largest mountains, including the biggest in the world, Mt. Everest. Draped all over Mt. Everest are colorful flags called Prayer Flags. Radiating Hope has adopted these prayer flags as a symbol for cancer patients globally. The prayer flags have a long tradition of representing strength, hope, and well-being for the people they honor. It is traditionally believed that as the mountain winds blow the flags, and the fragile threads drift away into the breeze, that each thread sends off a prayer of hope, strength, and well-being for the cancer patients they honor.
Nepal has 6 radiation centers in 3 major cities: Kathmandu- the capital, including the KCCH (Kathmandu Cancer Care Hospital: kccrc.org), Pokhara and Bkatapur. Of these 6 centers, there are a total of 8 Megavoltage radiation machines and 3 functional brachytherapy machines. That's one machine for every 3.2 million people, falling well below the worldwide standard of one radiation machine for every 100-250,000 people. It is our goal to improve these numbers.
Project Manager: Brandon Fisher, DO
Representative of International Development: Abish Adhikari, MD
Project Advisor: Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, World record holder for fastest time up Mt. Everest.
Director of Physics: TBA
Representative of International Development: Abish Adhikari, MD
Project Advisor: Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, World record holder for fastest time up Mt. Everest.
Director of Physics: TBA
Nepal currently does not accept used machines, so we donate our time and effort. A big aspect to advancing cancer care in developing countries is advocacy!! Through our mountain climbing efforts we have been able to create ‘super-advocates’ who can raise the banner for the imminent crisis faced by these developing countries when it comes to treating cancer. We offer a Mt. Everest base camp trek as part of our fundraising effort. Contact us and join us if you would like to experience the culture of Nepal and trek to the base camp of Mt. Everest.
Some of the nicest people in the world live in Nepal!! The Nepalese people love their country, in fact, according to the 2011 census, Nepal’s population grew from 9 million people in 1950 to 26 million people in 2011. ]The country is home to many different origins, as a result, Naplese does not equate to their nationality with ethnicity, but rather with citizenship and allegiance.
Nepal seeks volunteers for training, lectures and education. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to spend time in Nepal and help with our training efforts. We currently need volunteers trained in Physics, Radiation Oncology, Radiation Therapy, Dosimetry and Engineering.