Image credit: Randi Gardypie/Facebook

By Marty Hastings

FUNDRAISING HIKE

Merritt teacher raising money for kids to play sports on hike to Mount Everest base camp

Mar 18, 2025 | 5:01 PM

NAMCHE BAZAR, NEPAL — Randi Gardypie of Merritt is in northeastern Nepal on a fundraising hike to Mount Everest South Base Camp, more than 5,000 metres above sea level.

One of her friends started a GoFundMe account to help with travel and equipment costs, but Gardypie plans to donate all of the money raised to children in Merritt who don’t have the means to play organized sports.

“I just wanted to alleviate some of that for some families, specifically kids who really want to play,” said Gardypie, a teacher at Lower Nicola Indian Band School. “I hear it so often, ‘Oh, I’d play hockey, but I can’t afford to.’ It’s just a little bit disheartening.

“I know how the floods affected — and how they still affect — families with all the rising costs and cost of living. The kids in Merritt, they have so much potential.”

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Gardypie was in Namche Bazar on Monday (March 17) when she spoke to CFJC Today, about 3,400 metres above sea level – the highest altitude she had experienced to that point.

“It’s a bit surreal and humbling, just how all these buildings exist here in the mountains and how everything is carried up,” she said. “I’m just so grateful for everything. It is so beautiful.”

Gardypie said she felt strong and is thankful for good weather conditions, despite a turbulent flight in to Lukla, where the hike began.

She is expecting to reach Dinboche soon, a Sherpa village more than 4,000 metres above sea level.

The plan is to arrive at Mount Everest South Base Camp before turning around and descending to Lukla to complete the round trip of about 130 kilometres.

If all goes well, Gardypie expects to return within two years to attempt to summit Mount Everest.

Gardypie is originally from Yellow Quill First Nation in Saskatchewan and notes the trek has been in her dreams since she was a child.

“I take hiking from a spiritual perspective,” Gardypie said. “Back home, we do a lot of ceremonies. Whenever we do any kind of ceremony that goes inward, we go into the mountains. For me, this is a spiritual process, so I respect the teaching here of the locals… Lots of prayers. I’m so grateful for the prayers.”