YYY FOUNDATION - Key Persons

I have known the Gurungs for over 20 years and I have always found their commitment to the Nepalese communities both at home in Bath and in the country of Sera's birth inspirational. When disaster struck in 2015, I was keen to offer any help and support I could. Constructing a website has enabled me to use my day job skills and bring YYY Foundation into the public domain. I was delighted to join as a trustee at the beginning of 2016 and paid my first visit to Nepal in early 2017, nearly two years on from the earthquakes. While much rebuilding has been achieved, there is still a vast amount yet to do, not least for schools in remote regions, many of which are still cut off from aid.

I spent six weeks in Nepal in 1990 and have retained a strong interest in the country ever since. My family and I have been regular visitors to Yak Yeti Yak restaurant in Bath over the last 15 years, so I was delighted to get involved in setting up YYY Foundation as a charity with the Gurungs in 2015. My background in finance places me well to look after the financial and administrative aspects of the charity. I am also working with the Pituitary Foundation, another charity based in Bristol.

I grew up in the Midlands, North Wales and Guernsey, my childhood was spent playing on the farm next door and at the seaside where I spent long summers with my Grandmother. Hardly surprising that I developed a love of travel, it was my love of travel that first took me to Nepal where I was lucky enough to find work at Tiger Mountain and Himalayan River Exploration. I met Sera in 1992 and together with our children we try to return to Nepal at least twice a year. We set up the Foundation in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes when visitors to our restaurant wanted to pledge donations to help.