Thinley Namgay

The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) has contributed Nu 1 million (M) to the Snowman Run (SMR) board yesterday.

It was donated during a meeting of Snowman Run board members and the chief executive officers (CEO) of the 10 financial institutions.  The meeting was organised to seek financial assistance and to sensitise officials about the SMR.  

Except RMA, no other financial institutions have donated the fund so far. However, most of the CEO’s committed to donate to the SMR that would be conducted in October.

RMA’s Governor, Dasho Penjore said that being an important sector of economic growth, the financial institutions must support the SMR board to carry out the event.

 As an international event, the five-day Snowman Run requires USD 1.5M to meet all the expenses.  Currently, the board members are looking for donors.

 With the support from Druk Holding and Investment, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Limited, Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), and Bhutan Power Corporation Limited, SMR team received Nu 10.643M as of January 26 this year.  

Dubbed as the toughest and most challenging run, the  ‘Snowman Run’, will take place on October 13 coinciding with the Royal Wedding Anniversary.

 The idea of the run emanated from His Majesty The King’s visits to the highlands with a goal to protect the natural environment and preserve the unique age-old culture and tradition of the highland communities, adversely affected by the climate change.

The run intends to raise issues on the global climate change, invite world leaders to take bold and transformative actions, and to protect and preserve highland communities and environment.

 The event will be a timely initiative by the country to deliver Bhutan’s strategy of maintaining carbon neutral and to spread the message to the international communities on how the climate change has affected the country.

 A total of 25 ultra runners—20 international and five national, will take part in the event.

The run, which will start from Gasa, will challenge the runners to cover 347km within five days, taking them to elevation ranging from 2,850 to 5,470 metres before ending in Bumthang. Runners will cross 11 passes, six mountains over 7,000 metres, glaciers and two national parks: Jigme Dorji National Park and Wangchuck Centennial National Park.

 Currently, no ultra- marathon events in the world was conducted at an elevation of 5,470 metres above the sea level. Most interestingly, the runners will come across the world’s highest unclimbed peak, Gangkar Puensum which is 7,570 metres.

 SMR board has members from Tourism Council of Bhutan, Yangphel, Bhutan Amateur Athletic Federation, Bhutan Olympic Committee, Royal Bhutan Army, WWF, and Office of the Gyalpoi Zimpon.

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