By Derek Schlennstedt
Sue and Colin Emary have established a charity in memory of their daughter Cassandra, who died while pursuing her dreams in Nepal last November.
The Gembrook local was an ‘inspiring’ young kayaker and avid sportswoman and was known as Cassanga to her friends.
She succumbed to injuries sustained in a rafting accident in Pokhara, Nepal, on 29 November.
All who knew Cassandra adored her passion for life and adventure and friends and family said she lived her life without boundaries.
That lifestyle led her to engage in various extreme sports, including paragliding, wake boarding and whitewater rafting, even representing Australia in the White Water Rafting World Championships in Argentina.
Her parents set up the charity to reflect the same values and love for adventure that Cassandra displayed in her life.
It aims to support and promote unity and genuine inclusion of women in the outdoor sports and eco-adventure community around the globe.
The Cassanga Fund Facebook page states that the charity was created because “Cassanga wanted to make a difference”.
“She was extremely passionate about supporting and promoting women in adventure sports,” it said.
“Together we can make this happen for her with our Donate a Dollar Campaign.
“So get on board and please donate a dollar to help raise a million.”
Cassandra was the first known westerner to have a modernised traditional Nepali cremation on the river where she died.
For more information about the fund and to donate, visit www.facebook.com/cassangafund.
