Anila Nawang Samten (Anila) needs to visit Kathmandu to see an eye specialist and doctors for other health issues. She is hoping to combine this trip with a visit to Kopan Monastery while Lama Zopa Rinpoche, her brother, is there.
The helicopter from Mende to Kathmandu can cost up to US$2500 one way, and $5000 return. This campaign hopes to raise enough money to pay for a return helicopter fare for Anila to visit Kathmandu. Funds that exceed the cost of the helicopter will be offered to Anila to use as she needs during her stay in Kathmandu or at Lawudo.
Anila, is also known as "the Mother of Lawudo" (https://fpmt.org/mandala-today/the-mother-of-lawudo/). She has lived and taken care of Lawudo Retreat Centre in the mountains in Solu Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, for over 50 years.
Ven Robina met Anila in person at our first Lawudo Trek in 2017. Since, there have been four Lawudo Treks with Ven Robina that raise money for Lawudo Gompa and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's vision to build a Guru Rinpoche Pure Land at Lawudo.
When at Lawudo, you will see the countless daily tasks that Anila has done for the past 50 years. Aidan and Hayli, two of our 2022 trekkers stayed back for three weeks after our retreat with Ven Robina and wrote of their time at Lawudo:
"Our small contribution is nothing compared to the unbelievable hard work of Anila, Nyima, Venerable Tsultrim and Lhakpa. They literally do not stop! It is humbling, inspiring and exemplifies incredible devotion."
The Lawudo Trek will kick off the fundraising by offering $1000 to this campaign, reducing the maximum cost to $4000.
This campaign will run until Tuesday 22 November so that we can begin to organise the tickets needed for the journey.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
You can read more about Anila in an older article by Merry Colony, "The Keeper of Lawudo" (https://fpmt.org/mandala/archives/older/mandala-issues-for-1998/january/the-keeper-of-lawudo/).