metro
From Net
MDA is
when emer
Aid To Nepal
Detroit2Nepal Foundation fundraiser will help
with earthquake relief efforts.
Keri Guten Cohen
I Story Development Editor
N
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Whether it's a car accident in Israel or an earthquake in Kathmandu,
the men and women of Magen David Adorn, Israel's emergency
medical response organization, are dedicated to saving lives. And
they do it by having the most experienced paramedics in the world
and by getting there fast — whether it's around the corner or
around the world.
That's why MDA was the first Israeli medical organization on the
ground in Nepal Sunday. But being the best is a collaborative effort,
between EMTs and people like you.
Visit www.afmda.org/emergency to support MDA's mission
in Nepal or visit www.afmda.org/donate to support its daily
lifesaving work in Israel.
Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region
Manny Charach, Chair
Cari Margulis Immerman, Director
23215 Commerce Park Road, Suite 306
Beachwood, OH 44122
Toll-Free 877.405.3913 • central@afmda.org
www.afmda.org
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF
MAGEN DAVID ADOM
Israelis In Nepal
2004470
nril 30 • 2015
Keidan's second home since
1983. He first went for the
Himalayas and adventure, but when he
met Namgyal Sherpa, his lead guide, in
2009, his trips transformed into a mis-
sion to improve public health, healthcare
and educational opportunities for chil-
dren in remote Himalayan villages.
After researching needs, Keidan
launched his nonprofit, Detroit2Nepal
Foundation, in 2010. So far, the foun-
dation has built a new village school,
helped provide power to another village,
gives ongoing educational scholarships
and has outfitted an entire village with
ecological toilets. In February, work was
started on a village sub-health clinic that
will aid more than 3,000 people.
The massive earthquake that hit Nepal
Saturday, April 27, has undone much of
this work in mere hours.
"Seeing this happen is heartbreaking;
said Keidan of West Bloomfield, who has
traveled to Nepal more than 25 times. "I
have heard from many friends, but still
there are many I have not heard from.
My D2N country director, Raju, just
became a grandfather last week, and I
have not heard from him or his family,
and I have had no word from anyone
in our village areas where we work My
thoughts and prayers are with everyone:'
Detroit2Nepal was already hosting
a fundraiser in Downtown Detroit on
Friday, May 8. Now, Keidan says, half of all
funds raised in the next five weeks will go
toward disaster relief, with the other half
going to D2N projects. (See box.)
At press time, more than 4,000 people
have been killed and 7,000 injured.
Countries — including Israel, which
responded quickly by setting up the first
field hospital — are responding with aid,
but the wait is much longer for inacces-
sible areas beyond Kathmandu.
Suzi Colman, featured in a IN story
("Eyes On Everest, March 19, 2015) for
her work bringing eye clinics to remote
villages near Mount Everest, worries that
relief organizations cannot reach these
isolated villages. She hears from a Sherpa
friend living in Ann Arbor that destruc-
tion to the village where his family lives is
devastating. He suggests relief organiza-
tions use helicopters to reach these areas.
Keidan says the connection between
Nepal and Israel is strong.
"Thousands of Israelis visit Nepal
during their travels after their service in
SAVING LIVES IN ISRAEL
18
epal has been Dr. Richard
Richard Keidan at the site of a
Detroit2Nepal sub-health clinic being
built; he is unsure if it still stands.
the army:' he said. "I have come across
countless Israelis over the years. It is not
unusual to see store signs in Hebrew and
Hebrew keypads in the Internet cafes. I
have been to Passover seders and have
broken the fast after Yom Kippur with
thousands of young Israelis:'
Of the 2,000 Israelis reported in Nepal,
only 11 were unaccounted for at press
time. Many Israeli couples were awaiting
the births of their babies by Nepalese
surrogate mothers or already had their
newborn infants in hand. Chabad of
Nepal and the Israeli embassy sheltered
many of the Israelis.
Ironically, Keidan was supposed to
have been at Everest now; a massive
avalanche triggered by the earthquake
claimed many lives there.
"My Sherpa brother and D2N coun-
terpart, Namgyal Sherpa, died on Everest
two years ago:' Keidan said. "Had he been
alive, he would be running the second
Everest clean-up expedition right now; I
was supposed to be expedition doctor:'
Nepal Fundraisers
• "Over the Edge Detroit" will take
place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, May
8, at the First National Building
in Campus Martius in Downtown
Detroit. Those aged 18 or older who
raise $1,000 for the Detroit2Nepal
Foundation will be eligible to rappel
down the 341-foot building. Training
will be given on site. Funds raised
will be split between Nepal disaster
relief and D2N projects in Nepal and
Detroit. Tax-deductible donations can
be made at http://bit.lyNKUXs8 .
• Donate to the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee at
http://bit.ly/1J4giwA.
• Donate to American Friends of
Magen David Adorn at https://www.
afmda.org/emergency.
• Give to the B'nai B'rith Disaster
Relief Fund: http://bit.ly/1EKPgws.
• Donate to the Chabad Center in
Nepal: http://bit.ly/1ba11YS.