23 January 2010 

Everest Trekking for National Welfare Fund Launched

THE Brunei Chess Federation (BCF) with support from the Community Development Department (JAPEM), Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports have launched the “Everest Trekking” Charity project for the National Welfare Fund. 

The launching of the charity project was held on Saturday (January 23) at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports.

Called the “Everest Trekking Amal”, the project was officially launched by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Jumat, Minister of Culture Youth and Sports.

The charity project involves an 8-man team from the Brunei Chess Federation trekking across Nepal to ascend Everest Base Camp. The team has taken more than a year in planning and training to prepare themselves for the expedition. 

The President of the Federation and also the expedition leader, Hj Zainal bin Hj Md Ali in his welcoming speech stated that the charity trekking expedition is to answer His Majesty’s call to eradicate poverty in the country by 2035.  

100 per cent of the proceeds collected will go to the National Welfare Fund and will be allocated to rebuild or rehabilitate the houses of needy families in the country.  

Hj Zainal noted that besides bringing the first ever Brunei Darussalam team to one of the most extreme location in the world, the main mission of the charity trek is to raise money to help the needy in the country and improve their quality of lives. 

The first leg of the charity trek will start off from Lukla, Nepal and the team will make their way on foot for a 60 km ascending journey up to Everest Base Camp (5639m above sea-level). This is higher than the peak of Mount Kinabalu which is at 4100m. 

At the camp, the team is also planning to organise the world’s highest chess game.

From the base camp, they will again make another 60 km hike back to Lukla.

The whole trekking expedition will cover more than 120 kilometres and take 16 days to complete. It is planned to start on April 23 to May 9, 2010. 

Donations during this Everest Trekking Amal can be made via SMS and at JAPEM, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. Members of the public can also donate by cheque payable to ‘BCF Trekking Amal’ at HSBC Bank and also for the first time ever via online at www.trekkingamal.com.bn.