by Elizabeth Doerr

Uncharacteristically, I’m not going to necessarily weave you a story today of some super cool watch or its maker. I have another story to tell, and it’s linked to unfortunate current events. For once, I’m actually going to get to the point right off the bat and then tell you why.

If you’re curious as to why I’m being so serious, please read the back story of the Kobold watch company’s Kathmandu branch called The Kathmandu Back Story: Michael Kobold And Sir Ranulph Fiennes On Conquering Everest, Being Loyal, And Exercising Gratitude.

Michael Kobold and his ambassador, the preeminent explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, created the Kathmandu Fire Truck Expedition, which will see a group of adventurers drive several donated, American-built fire engines from Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) to Kathmandu. As Kobold recently told me, “The Kathmandu Valley features the world’s highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, the Kathmandu Fire Department only has five worn-out vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s. In addition, its five million inhabitants face the strong likelihood of devastating earthquakes. The Kathmandu fire chief has made an appeal for more modern equipment.”

Kobold and Fiennes have spent a great deal of energy and resources on the Fire Truck Expedition, which was set to begin in December 2015. And then the devastating earthquake hit on April 25, 2015. The damage is unimaginable, and at the time of this writing not all of it has yet been discovered (also at the time of this writing, two of Kobold’s own team members and their families remain unaccounted for).

Those worn-out fire trucks are now gone. Kathmandu’s cultural heritage is gone. The Kobold Watch Company Nepal (Pvt.) Ltd is gone, and the Sherpas and their families (and all of Kathmandu’s citizens for that matter) are endangered.

But you and I can help Kobold to help Kathmandu and save lives right now. Go to the website of his recently established Soarway Foundation to find out how you can help. Kobold founded it precisely for what has just befallen Kathmandu: disaster relief.

Among other things, money raised will go toward constructing an earthquake-proof fire hall and first responder unit (neither of which exist anymore as of April 25, 2015).