Pune’s bid on Mt Everest hits funds crunch

As the countdown for the city-based Giripremi mountaineering group’s Everest expedition begins, the group is making a last-ditch effort to collect the balance 40% of the funds required for the expedition.

In an appeal to citizens in Pune, who already are the backbone of the fund collection campaign, Umesh Zirpe, leader of the Everest team, said at a press conference, “Historian Babasaheb Purandare has also blessed this project and has featured in our anthem video. We wish to reach the maximum number of people by telecasting the video on local and other Marathi television channels and radio.”

“This is an appeal to collect funds for the first-ever all-Puneite team’s expedition to the highest mountain in the world. The money required for the project is Rs3.25 crore. We have collected 60% of the money, but have only 70 days to collect the remaining 40%,” added Zirpe.

The team would be leaving for Nepal on March 16. Zirpe said, “The entire team is all set to leave, the physical fitness, moral support is ready and the support that we are receiving from citizens is itself encouraging. There is no big company sponsoring the event, which is why we are appealing to citizens to come forward to help us.”

The anthem has been written by Jayant Kulkarni and directed by Milind Bhanage. It is sung by Prashant Kulkarni, Nikhil Mahamuni and Jitendra Abhyankar. The song would be launched by singer Rahul Deshpande.