Mail by Runner 135: Feature Story: Yashu's Summit Challenge

We wanted to spotlight someone truly special: Yashu Dhakal, a 13-year-old member of our Himalayan Trust whānau who took on the Summit Challenge with grit, purpose, and heart.

Yashu’s family is from Nepal, and while she was born and raised in New Zealand, her connection to the Himalayas runs deep. Over the course of March, she climbed Christchurch’s Adventure Park seven times, gaining 2,890m of elevation and raising over $1,200 to support education in the Everest region.

Yashu Dhakal of Christchurch.

The view from the top of Christchurch Adventure Park.

Along the way, she pushed through heat, muscle fatigue, a 12km race (the City2Surf), and a full school schedule. Her reflections on this journey are honest, inspiring, and deeply moving.

“This journey wasn’t just about physical endurance; it was a lesson in resilience, gratitude, and community… The thought that my efforts could contribute to the education of children in the Everest region fills my heart with gratitude.”

We hope Yashu’s story encourages other young people to get involved in this work, and reminds all of us just how powerful one person’s effort can be.

Read Yashu’s full story and follow her journey: Summit Challenge | Yashu Dhakal

Dhanyabad to Yashu and the Dhakal family for climbing with purpose. We’re so proud to have you with us.