NEWS ( THE STAR ONLINE )


Friday February 10, 2006

Climber wooing kids

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman T. Ravichandran, who aspires to be the first Malaysian to make a solo climb to the world highest peak, is inviting children from charity homes to join him in another expedition ahead of his ambitious plan to scale Mount Everest.

The managing director of the TR Group of Companies said he hoped special children would be among the 100 people who will join him in the upcoming Gunung Ledang Environment Impact Assessment Expedition 2006.

I want the children to be a part of it and their statement on the environmental issue should not be ignored, he told The Star at a gathering with 70 special children at the National Society of the Deaf here yesterday.

The expedition will be held on Feb 18-19.

FUNNY MAN: Ravichandran (right) joking with some special children at the National Society of the Deaf in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

After climbing several mountains in Malaysia and the Himalayas, Ravichandran wants to scale Mount Everest solo next month from Tibet, in an attempt to raise RM2mil for charity homes in Malaysia.

The climb, which will take at least three months and cost about RM75,000, will be fully funded by his company.

Ravichandran, 40, said previously his organisation collected donations from only the corporate sector but now the public was interested to chip in as well.

On the prospects of being alone in the mountains, the down-to-earth Ravichandran said his fond thoughts of caring Malaysians and especially the children, is what would keep him sane.

Blessings from everyone is what Im hoping for, he added.

For more information, visit http://www.treverestcharity2006.com/