Dr Verena Doolabh was part of a group travelling in Amman when a gunman opened fire, killing one of the tourists. Verena herself was shot in the spine and was instantly paralysed from the waist down.

Verena, now greatly recovered, has trekked to Mt Everest's Base Camp to raise funds for spinal research.

• The 14-day trek of about 150 kms, commenced on 15th March 2008.
• From Lukla - 2800 metres altitude
• To Everest Base Camp - 5340 metres altitude

THE TEAM HAVE RETURNED

The team: Verena Doolabh, her mum Vanita, friend Jenny and her mum's personal trainer Kelly, have raised $8928.40 after trekking to Everest Base Camp in a quest to support spinal cord injury research.

We acknowledge the generous support from:

• Rotary Club of Coonamble
• Lions Club of Coonamble Inc
• Quota International of Coonamble Inc.

This trek was an endeavour resulting from Verena Doolabh suffering a spinal cord injury in 2006 - that was when she was travelling on tour through Jordan when a man starting shooting at the group.

She was shot in the spine at the level of L5/S1 and was instantly paralysed from the waist down.

The bullet lodged in her spinal canal and she had immediate surgery to remove it. Although she was extremely fortunate to only suffer from a neuropraxic injury, and therefore only temporary disability, it still took her 6 months to learn how to walk again before returning to work as a doctor in rural NSW.

Being a survivor of a bullet to the spine, Verena would like to share her story with others and raise money for spinal cord injury research through her Everest Base climb.

Now being 90% physically recovered from her injury, Verena is dedicated to the cause and she knows she will get sufficiently strong enough to achieve her goal.
She believes she's a better doctor - knowing what it's like on the receiving end. As an independent single young female, she also knows how difficult it was to have all that taken away in an instant.

• Verena has always enjoyed hiking and in 2005 she climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.