Help for Upper Dolpo: A Tribute to Mark Hollow ❣️

Through The Kamzang Fund, we are establishing The Mark Hollow Dolpo Fund to benefit the Tibetan communities of Upper Dolpo, in remote western Nepal. In October 2024, Mark was trekking in Upper Dolpo with Kamzang Journeys when he suffered from a sudden, unexpected heart condition, and sadly some weeks later passed away surrounded by family in Canberra, Australia. Mark, in his mid 60s, passed away too soon, but from an episode in a country and region he loved. It was his third visit to Dolpo in 11 years. After discussion with his wife Rosie we decided to establish a Dolpo Fund in his memory, to provide ongoing support to the people and communities in an area he enjoyed so much.

Mark started trekking in Nepal in the 1980s, and together Mark and Rosie trekked in Gokyo, Kanchenjunga, the Kharta Valley & Kangshung Face region of Tibet, and to Everest Base camp in Tibet. Fortunate to have an extended family in Kathmandu, they regularly visited Nepal. Mark had also trekked in the Mustang and Annapurna regions of Nepal, as well as in Ladakh, in the western Indian Himalaya.

Mark & Rosie trekked through Upper Dolpo with Kamzang Journeys in 2013, and Mark returned to trek a different route through Upper Dolpo in the spring of 2016. During our 2024 trek, Mark had a reunion with our local guide Thinle Gyalgen in Saldang several days before he passed away, which brought them both great happiness. He met Susma's family, who prepared a lovely snack and tea for us, and presented us all with kata scarves, before reaching Ringmo. He spent an evening with Kunsang, one of our Dolpo medically-sponsored girls who is cooking at Karang School. Mark & I met another young woman, Pema Gurung, who was teaching at Khoma School at age 18, but desperately wants to study medicine. Mark is also well acquainted with many of the other students and Himalayan inhabitants that The Kamzang Fund has helped over the past 20 years. Mark enjoyed these these remote Himalayan regions, especially the heartbreakingly beautiful Upper Dolpo.

You can read about what The Kamzang Fund has been doing in Nepal & the Indian Himalaya over the past 20 years on our website:

https://www.kamzangjourneys.com/kamzang-fund/

Donations are in $USD ...

The Kamzang Fund | 100%

100% of your donations go to the Kamzang Fund, the Kamzang Kids, and our Kamzang Fund Projects. If you would like to donate to the Kamzang Fund in general, we put our general pool of funds towards children who have extra needs during their education (including medical assistance, clothes, or housing), villagers that we meet during our travels that require medical assistance, Himalayan nomads or other of our Kamzang Fund projects. Donations are in $USD

THE DOLPO FUND (UPDATES)

Susma Gurung (Rechi, Dolpo) – Secondary & University Education in Kathmandu - GOAL REACHED!

Thinle Gyalgen's son Pema Tenzin Lama (Saldang, Dolpo) - University Education in Kathmandu - GOAL CLOSE!

THE DOLPO FUND

Karang School - Funding for Teachers' Salaries, Student Boarding Expenses & Nutritious Meals for Students

Pema Gurung (Khoma, Dolpo, Teaching at Khoma School, 18 years old) – University Medical Studies in Kathmandu

Tsering Bhuti Gurung (Thinkyu, Dolpo) – University Education in Kathmandu

Tashi Lhamo (Mukut, Dolpo) – University Education in Kathmandu

Tsedup Dorje (Tshering Kyinzom’s son, Chharka, Dolpo) - University Education in Kathmandu

Pema Kunsang (Saldang, Dolpo) - Amchi (Tibetan Medicine) Studies in Kathmandu