Hope For Gus Supports a center in Nepal for Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

In 2015, the Hope for Gus Foundation traveled to Nepal for the first Everest to End Duchenne trek.

We had a team of 7 people, plus a filmmaker, and raised over $100,000 for research for DMD.

Prior to the trek, Tonya had begun to communicate online with a Nepali gentleman who had opened up his home outside of Kathmandu for boys with Duchenne. In Nepal, a very poor and developing country, there are no federal or state funds to help those with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses. There is also no universal or government-funded healthcare. These boys couldn’t even go to school, because there is no way to transport them. Villages have mostly rocky paths for roads and wheelchairs are expensive.

At the time, a number of boys were able to move from their villages to Nirmal’s home and live together, having companionship and social interaction. Nirmal’s family cared for them and organized art lessons, internet access, and even had a physical therapist visit from time to time. But the house was old and not conducive to those living with a mobility disability. The family had to carry each boy up a flight of stairs just to use the bathroom and they all slept together on one bed.

The 2015 Everest to End Duchenne team visited the home, called the Muscular Dystrophy Organization of Nepal, and were welcomed by the family and boys with a lovely ceremony and tea. We were able to ask many questions about life in Nepal for someone with muscular dystrophy and saw firsthand how they lived day-to-day.

Before we even began the trek to Everest Base Camp, the team decided to donate a portion of the funds raised to help improve the quality of life for these young men. Since that time, Hope for Gus has supported them through each of our 5 Everest treks and also provided Covid relief.

In 2023 we officially launched our program, Mission DMD: Nepal. Since then, HFG has given support in the following ways:

· Initiated a collaboration between 7 DMD Foundations to build a much-needed new building for the center.
· Purchased wheelchairs, shower chairs, sling lifts
· Started a registry of DMD families in Nepal
· Funded the first ever summer camp for boys
· Provided office supplies and a new computer for the center
· Currently looking into hiring a PT and finding a neurologist who can treat these boys who’ve had zero medical care.