A Maltese police sergeant has completed a demanding journey through the Himalayas, reaching Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar while turning a lifelong ambition into an opportunity to support a cause connected to his work.
Ryan Mifsud Schembri, who has served within the Malta Police Force for 19 years, travelled to Nepal for the challenge and used the expedition to raise funds and awareness for the Victim Support Europe Terrorism Response Network.
Eight Days Trekking Through The Himalayas
Starting from Lukla, Ryan spent around eight consecutive days trekking through the Himalayas, with days on foot reportedly lasting between eight and ten hours.
The journey eventually brought him to Everest Base Camp, at approximately 5,364 metres above sea level, before he continued towards Kala Patthar, which reaches an elevation of more than 5,600 metres.
The route took him through remote mountain settlements and increasingly high altitudes as he worked towards the two destinations.
A Lifelong Ambition With A Bigger Purpose
For Ryan, however, reaching Everest Base Camp was not intended to be purely a personal achievement.
Through his Trekking for a Cause initiative, he has been using the expedition to raise awareness and funds for the Victim Support Europe Terrorism Response Network, which works to strengthen support for people affected by terrorism.
“Trekking to Mount Everest Basecamp and Kala Patthar has been a lifelong dream but I also want the challenge to have a purpose beyond personal goal,” Ryan wrote.
19 Years Of Police Service
Ryan has served with the Malta Police Force for 19 years, including previous roles within the Special Intervention Unit and Malta Counter Terrorism Unit.
He currently works in the Netherlands as a specialist at Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre.
That professional background also connects his Himalayan challenge with the cause he chose to support, bringing together a personal ambition and his work in the counter terrorism field.
Taking Malta To The Himalayas
Images from the expedition show Ryan carrying the Maltese flag high in the Himalayas as he marked the achievement.
After eight days of trekking, long hours on foot and the challenges of high altitude, the journey achieved what Ryan had set out to do: reach one of the world’s best known trekking destinations while giving the challenge a purpose beyond the adventure itself.
For Ryan, it really was trekking for a cause.
