Heroes make the world a better place!
It’s Spring! It’s my birthday!
And, with Mother’s Day right around the corner, I can't help but feel hope rising and an overwhelming feeling of excitement with new beginnings underfoot.
This past year has us headed into Spring with anticipation for a much-needed refresh. The combination of covid19, the shutdowns, and the dead of winter forced abrupt slowdowns and with it - I found a lot of space for self-reflection. Thinking of important moments and the important people in our lives, leaning-in to the greater network; of which we all function as part-of, serving others, supporting our truth, loving, and being loved and with it all, I can’t help but to think of the opportunities each new day brings.
Eric Donaho is an US Army veteran. He was also a teammate on my Mera Peak/Goyko Ri 2018 Expedition to Nepal. For the philanthropic portion of our trip, we leaned-into a local Nepalese orphanage to set up a medical tent and bring them much needed supplies, like lap-top computers and Ugg’s for their feet. Eric spearheaded the wheelchair-donation portion of our efforts and because of Eric’s perseverance, dedication, and his unwavering ability to see each obstacle as an opportunity, to push thru every challenge our team delivered 13 wheelchairs to the children of the CDCA orphanage that year.
Wheelchairs are not manufactured in Nepal and are a very costly and difficult item to import. From birth defects and burned limbs, to cerebral palsy and sickness, before receiving the wheelchairs Eric Donoho made possible, the children at the orphanage had to be carried everywhere. Back-breaking work for the people caring for them and carrying them to participate in life, vs. being left in their beds. Forever changed by our expedition and his experience with Dendi Sherpa and the CDCA Orphanage, Eric recognized the need for wheelchairs in Nepal was very real. Thru his newly named non-for profit, Hand up Heroes and CDCA project for wheelchair distribution in Nepal Eric is continuing the mission to bring wheelchairs to a place where you absolutely cannot find them.
The philosophy of sharing, combined with the gift of giving, can truly impact the world around us and Eric is a true reflection of this philosophy. As I approach completion of my next trip around the sun, with another year in my rearview, and a refreshing new season ahead, I will lean-in to as much hope as I can, with as much gratitude as I can, to celebrate the beauty of life by living it thru the suffering as much as I can to appreciate the joy on the other side, and by leaning in to helping others. The joy of giving is real, just ask my friend Eric and Spring into hope this season. I am excited for us all to share our gifts with the world again.
Hand Up Heroes was created by Eric Donaho with a mission dedicated to recognizing the everyday heroes that inspire the world around them through love, compassion, and empathy to others.
I am Beyond proud to stand alongside Eric Donoho and Hand Up Heroes to see more wheelchairs thru to Kathmandu And, from 4/14-5/14 Beyond Fresh Organic Superfoods will be donating a portion of webs sales to Hand Up Heroes/CDCA project for wheelchair distribution Nepal. You can lean-in too.
Please head over to https://www.handupllc.com to donate and help us see another new mission thru to fruition.
♥️ Heather
PS. I will be announcing more philanthropic expeditions and climbs for 2021 and 2022 so stay tuned, the mountains are calling…
Hand Up Heroes was created by Eric Donaho with a mission dedicated to recognizing the everyday heroes that inspire the world around them through love, compassion, and empathy to others.