Four Del Mar residents join forces to conduct medical clinics for at risk & orphan children in Nepal

Sally & Dr. David Monahan, Ingrid Hoffmeister, Carol Kerridge

At the end of next month, Dr. David Monahan, his wife Sally, retired Nurse Carol Kerridge and Ingrid Hoffmeister leave Del Mar to travel to Kathmandu, Nepal. Under the direction of Dr. Monahan and with the help of local Nepalese residents working with Chhahari, a non-profit home for at risk & orphan children, they will conduct Medical Clinics in the Kathmandu area. Their focus will include the 21 children of Chhahari, students attending a local high school and children working in a brick factory in the mountains.

For Hoffmeister this will be her third trip to help the children, for Kerridge, her second, and a first for the Doctor and his wife. “We have been planning this trip for six months,” says Hoffmeister. “It began when Carol and I met Dr. David Monahan and Sally at our first used book sale, benefitting the 21 children of Chhahari – a very fortunate meeting!

The last Chhahari Used Book Sale will be Sunday September 5th 8am - 12.30 at the Stratford Court Café in Del Mar - The four hope to raise money to cover the cost- $500 -for special Humanitarian Travel Packs for their Medical Mission ($12,000 worth of medications).  These packs will treat 350 children and 350 adults for fevers, infections and other diseases.   

The groups' objective is the development of an annual medical outreach program, plus fund raising for  www.Chhahari.org  “These children live in poverty yet ask for nothing. Showing up is everything,” says Hoffmeister.

While in Kathmandu the four will live with a local family who earn money by running a family homestay,  www.familyhomestays.com  “Our intention is to support the local people in every way we can. This includes educating ourselves about their culture and medical practices,” says Dr. Monahan.