CTV Ottawa’s Leanne Cusack is safe in Kathmandu, Nepal with her team from the Dream Mountains Foundation after a major earthquake shook the country on Saturday. At least 2,200 people have been killed.
They are in Nepal to take part in this year’s Dream Mountains Everest Base Camp trek. Cusack and her team planned to climb to Everest Base Camp to raise money for charities.
Dream Mountains Founder Shawn Dawson, who is leading the team in Nepal, posted the following update to Facebook at 3:51 a.m. Sunday morning:
"First off the team members are all safe and comfortable at the Yak & Yeti Hotel , but understandably a little shaken up (iterally).
Still some aftershocks.
Our condolences to the people of Nepal and their loved ones - this is a very trying time them, but it is wonderful to see how they are coming together to help one another.
We are thankful to our guardian angels - My assistant guide Kristi and myself made the decision to cancel the City tour and give the team the day to relax, if we hadn't then the team would have been in harms way - Dream Team Blessing.
The team was unable to fly to Lukla today to begin our hike to EBC, but with luck we will be able to fly out tomorrow morning ( please remember we are 9 hrs 45 min ahead of Ottawa).
Our plan is to stay on coarse and with luck arrive at EBC on May 4th, but safety is our first concern, and we will not take any unnecessary risks, and all team members have chose to continue, and play it day by day.
Note: That this team is NOT climbing Everest and the reports of casualties at Base Camp are referring to climbers that were higher on the mountain, so this does not effect us at all, however I am very happy to hear our friend Elia Saikaly, Elia Saikaly is safe and out of harms way at Base Camp.
I apologize to all the media folks that have been trying to reach me for comments, but my first concern is the team, and as I have said, we are safe and comfortable and being well taken care of , plus I am trying to save our cell minutes in case I will need them later ... but while we have internet, I will try to stay in touch.
Thank you all for your love and support, I hope you will consider making a donation to our cause and support the charities that we are here on behalf - W have currently exceeded $160,000 (an amazing feat for only 22 people).
http://dreammountains.com/dreamteam/everest-2015/
PS - GO SENS GO
Cheers
Shawn Dawson
