Shropshire adventurer bound for Nepal to help aid effort
A man who has spent years helping communities in Nepal was travelling to the country today.
Ant Eddies-Davies, who runs Live The Adventure outdoor activity company in Stottesdon, between Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer, has launched a campaign to raise £25,000 for the aid effort.
His trip will take him from Kathmandu to Sukute and other parts of the regions affected by the two major earthquakes that hit the country.
Mr Eddies-Davies, who has spent 25 years leading adventure trips in Nepal, said he would spend his five days out there.
The 44-year-old said he was feeling apprehensive about seeing schools and community projects that he had helped to create flattened in the disaster.
He said: "The aid pouring in is helping with temporary measures such as shelter and food and medical care. I will be spending five days looking at what can be done in the long-term such as rebuilding those schools and community buildings that have collapsed.
"We will be talking to people on the ground to work out what is needed and this will allow us to come back home to allocate the funds raised to the best place. If a country could recover it is Nepal because the people are so resilient. "
He said when he heard about the first earthquake his first thoughts were for his friends and colleagues who lived in the area. "I have got a friend over there who I share an office with in Kathmandu, and she has got a broken leg," he said.
He said he was shocked by the scenes of devastation caused by the quake, and fears the death toll will eventually reach 12,000.
So far, more than £5,000 has been donated by residents for Mr Eddies-Davies' fundraising campaign.
Mr Eddies-Davies has planned a series of events over the coming months to raise cash. The first is an open day at the activity centre in the village's Old Vicarage on May 31.
A paintball tournament will be held on June 13, a summer ball for August 15 and a music festival for September 13. Donations can be made via a Paypal donation account at www.ovac.co.uk/nepal-earthquake-appeal.html or visit livetheadventure.co.uk
