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What began 10 years ago as a tragedy for nurse Cherie Bremer-Kamp has evolved into an ongoing commitment and fullfilment of a promise made to the people of a remote region of Nepal. In the winter of 1985, Cherie was climbing Mount Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak, when, almost at the summit, her husband Dr Chris Chandler died from altitude sickness. Bremer-Kamp and her sherpa companion were both severely frostbitten. The Sherpas and Tibetans living in villages around 11,000 feet heard of the accident and arrived to aid in the evacuation. They carried Bremer-Kamp and the porter from 17,000 feet to 10,000 feet, over precipitous trails, to the safety of a village where they were transported by helicopter to medical treatment in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

Bremer-Kamp asked these villagers what she could do to repay their kindness. Their request was to improve the educational opportunities for their children, and provide health services for the community at large.

In 1989, Cherie Bremer-Kamp returned to the village of Ghunsa, the highest permanent settlement on the trekking route to the base camp for Mt. Kangchenjunga, to construct a school and health clinic for the village, and make good on her promise. Money raised from slides shows and lectures conducted over three continents, generous donations from family and friends, plus the support of a number of sponsor organizations sympathetic to the plight of the rural poor in Nepal, culminated in the realization of this promise. Bremer-Kamp coordinated the construction of a nine-room school and outfitted a medical clinic. She also trained a local Buddhist monk to function as a “barefoot doctor” by providing basic health care services to other residents.

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