Thank you for the continued attention your newspaper has given to the plight of trekking porters in Nepal. This issue is of critical importance to the future of Nepal's trekking and tourism industry, and the Nepali Times has realised this from the very beginning.

Your recent coverage of the IPPG Machermo Aid Post and the plight of Lok Bahadur Kharki does indeed have a happy ending. Thanks to the hard work of the IPPG doctors and the dozens of porters who carried Lok's body to Kunde and then kept a 24 hour vigil at Teaching hospital for him, Lok has made an amazing recovery. He is now able to walk on his own, speak coherently, and can even cook for himself. Doctors estimated that this would take an entire year to reach this stage. We are now expecting a speedy and full recovery.

Lok is a testament to the strength and determination of Nepali porters, and his story is again a testament to the fact that compassion and solidarity can accomplish miracles.

Ben Ayers,
Porters' Progress Nepal