Russell's Run for First Steps Himalaya

Thanks for visiting!

On February 14th 2026 I will be running the 50km Tarawera Ultra Marathon event in Rotorua. This will be my first time running a marathon distance, let alone 50km, and just for fun there is 1,150m of vertical climb thrown in. I am doing this to raise awareness and funding for the First Steps Himalaya (FSH) charity who provide education resourcing and support to 26 early childhood (kindy through primary age) schools throughout rural areas of Nepal.

For many kids in Nepal, particularly in rural areas, access to quality education is far from guaranteed. Early education is critical to open the door for further study and eventually jobs which can support not just themselves, but their families and communities. Of course, education also provides social benefits, particularly for young women, who otherwise may not be afforded the same opportunities (the current literacy rate in Nepal is 84% for men, and 69% for women).

Our money goes such a long way in Nepal! Some examples of what the relative costs are for FSH:

$60 can run two community workshops

$100 will pay a teacher's salary for one month (!)

$150 will provide learning material for a whole class (!!)

I appreciate times are pretty tough right at the minute so finding any extra cash is a real ask. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated, even a couple of bucks, it all helps.

These kids deserve our support, so I hope you will join me in taking steps towards empowering them through education.