Couple on a mission to climb Everest Base Camp for charity

Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | August 18

Having conquered some of the highest mountains in Nagaland including Saramati, Japfu and Pauna besides doing several other treks and motorcycle adventures together, Thejakielie Zuyie and Verakholu Veyie who got married last December are on a mission to climb the Base Camp of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest for charity.

Everest Base Camp stands at an altitude of more than 5000 metres and is one of the most popular trekking routes in the Himalayas. The husband and wife from Kohima are calling their expeditions ‘Ola’ (Our Little Adventure) and confess that they love adventure as much as they love each other.

Following their marriage on December 15, 2020, they have also been travelling on their motorcycle under this name, experiencing local festivals, exploring remote villages, and scaling mountains. “We have been doing all these just because we simply love to explore. But this time, we are on a mission to touch the base of Mount Everest for charity”, they share.

In an exclusive interview with The Morung Express, Thejakielie Zuyie says, “Since we have been doing a lot of adventures, we thought why not do it for a cause instead of just doing it for ourselves.” Pointing to the idea of setting up a library for an orphanage home, he puts across that, “We felt that would be a good cause. We do not read much, but that will help the children in the home as well.”

The children they are looking to help through the trek to the Everest Base Camp, he highlights, are also faced with the challenges of not having enough mobile phones, good network connectivity, etc. Many people have already come forward to contribute to the cause even as he expresses, “There are people who wish to see our dreams come true, and we are moving forward with a positive attitude.”

If all goes well, he says, “We plan to ride our motorcycle 2584 kms from Nagaland to Kathmandu, Nepal and back.”

Their scheduled trek starts on September 11, 2021 and will take 15 days and 14 nights, 130 km trek from Lukla to Everest base camp at 17,598 ft. “We hope to stay healthy to get there. And we are confident we will make it because we are from a high-altitude place,” he adds.

His wife, Verakholu Veyie had recently quit her job at a bank, where she was serving as a Deputy Manager. Free from all the mental stress of the life of a banker now, she is looking forward to scaling the Everest Base Camp with the love of her life.

Recalling the various expeditions they have taken together after marriage, she candidly puts across that, “Every day is a new experience for us. We have been exploring surrounding places, villages, rivers….we are out in the woods almost every day.”

There are several places they have revisited and explored more than once, but she says, “There is a new takeaway every time. We visit these places during different seasons- the weather is different and even the experience is different. There is always something new,” she says.

While their adventures are mostly made of treks and motorcycle rides, the 29-year-old Verakholu and 38-year-old Thejakielie interestingly met in a bank.

But talking about dreams, this couple is about to make another dream come true by scaling the Everest Base Camp. Dream Café will be their official partner and will be particularly taking care of their upcoming expedition under the hashtag #Ihaveadreamnagaland. “Dream Café is not just about selling coffee but a place where they make dreams come true in many ways”, they put across, in this regard.

Anyone interested in learning more about the upcoming September expedition or donating to the cause can call 9856123203/9612408882.