Seattle couple turn personal grief to fund raising efforts for Nepal

The Schumachers are helping Dorje Bakery Café and Coffee Center in Langtang valley rebuild after it suffered extensive damage in last year’s quake. There is a reason why the Seattle couple picked that specific café -it was where their 19 year old daughter had last been before she lost her life in a landslide triggered by the quake.

Sydney Schumacher was on backpacking trip through Europe and Asia before she officially began her first year college. She had been trekking in the Langtang Valley and her family did not have a clear idea of her final days. That was until the owner of Dorje Bakery got in touch with them via facebook, asking them if they recognized the handwriting of one of their previous guests who had written on their guest book.

The page, with the heading Dorje Bakery Café and Coffee Center, had a drawing of some stick figures enjoying a hike through the mountains.

“I’ll be back tomorrow after my day trek,” it read.

The family met the bakery owners on their trip to Kathmandu, when they came last year to retrieve the mortal remains of their daughter. Mrs Schumacher confirms that it was a huge gift to know that Sydney had been enjoying her time in Nepal and was happy to be experiencing the joys of the country.

Lhakpa and Nima Jangba, the bakery owners, gave them the page from the guest book signed by their daughter. The family from Seattle in turn decided to turn their grief towards something positive, by helping the earthquake survivors rebuild.

They have raised a total of $10,000 for Lhakpa and Nima so that they may continue to serve new adventurers who come through their door like Sydney.