Meet Candice Young of Trek Relief

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Young.

Hi Candice, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really began with a deep love for the Himalayas. By 2016, I had already completed three treks in Nepal and felt a soul-level connection to the region. After the 2015 earthquake, I signed up to volunteer with the nonprofit All Hands and was eventually hired as a Field Coordinator. I found myself at the epicenter, overseeing the logistics of rebuilding 50 homes and toilets. We were living through daily brownouts and constant aftershocks, doing the gritty, essential work of recovery.

But the real turning point—the moment Trek Relief was born—happened after that project ended.

I had set aside two months to trek, and I felt pulled toward the Langtang Valley. It was a popular route near the epicenter that had been officially closed due to massive landslides. Everyone said it was unsafe, but after seeing a couple of trekkers trickling down from that direction, a friend and I decided to see the situation for ourselves.

What we found was devastating. It looked as if a nuclear bomb had gone off. Even after three months of working at the epicenter, I wasn’t prepared for this level of destruction. The people there were desperate; they weren’t just asking for aid—they were begging us to stay for a meal or a night’s rest just to have some semblance of business again. We ended up changing our itinerary twice just to support the families we met along the trail.

I left that valley completely shaken. For the next two months, I couldn’t shake the images of those villages. I knew I had to do something, so I decided to start a personal fundraiser.

As if the universe was confirming the path, I met a man on the trail who would become my mentor: Dr. Rob Williams. He challenged my initial $10,000 vision and encouraged me to aim for $50,000. He provided the methodology, and by following his advice to a T, I hit that goal in just eight months. What started as a personal mission evolved into Trek Relief—a way to bridge the gap between the adventure of trekking and the urgent, heartbeat needs of the communities that make those adventures possible.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Like any ten-year journey in entrepreneurship, we’ve faced our fair share of mountains. Reaching our 10-year milestone feels surreal, especially considering we had to survive a global pandemic that effectively shut down the entire travel industry—the very engine of our model.

When the world halted, our travel-based programs stopped overnight. But the crisis in Nepal didn’t. I was checking in on our partners there as a massive wave of COVID-19 crossed the border from India. The healthcare system was overwhelmed, and the situation was so dire that funeral pyres couldn’t keep up. Our partners weren’t just looking for business; they were hoping to survive.

That was our biggest obstacle: How do we lead a ‘Trek’ relief organization when no one can trek?

We decided to challenge our own limiting beliefs. We launched an emergency online fundraiser, and to show our community how much I believed in this mission, I personally offered to match every single dollar donated. That personal commitment rallied our network in a way I’ve never seen. In less than three weeks, we raised $25,000 and funneled it directly to a local nonprofit on the front lines.

That ‘obstacle’ ended up being our greatest teacher. It taught us that our true specialty isn’t just logistics or mountain trails—it’s our ability to mobilize a global network and turn empathy into immediate action. We realized we don’t always need to be on the ground to make an impact; we just need to keep building that bridge of support.

We’ve been impressed with Trek Relief, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Trek Relief is more than a travel organization; it’s a movement to popularize the concept of traveling with purpose. We believe that when travel is paired with service and an altruistic cause shared by a team of trip-mates, it creates a ripple effect that extends farther than we can possibly imagine. Giving back to the communities we visit isn’t just a ‘nice to do’—it is a deeper, more profound way of connecting with the land and its people.

What we specialize in:
We bridge the gap between epic adventure and high-impact philanthropy. We specialize in creating fundraising trips that tie local, community-requested projects into adventurous journeys deep in nature. We don’t guess what a village needs; we respond directly to the requests of the communities themselves, ensuring our impact is both wanted and sustainable.

What sets us apart:
What truly distinguishes us is how we empower the individual traveler. We don’t just want you to be a participant; we want you to be a leader. We invite our alumni to return as trip leaders or create future programs. We believe every person has the capacity to make a difference, so we provide the tools, training, and support for people to find their own ‘golden paths’—combining their love for travel with a meaningful contribution to the world.

What I’m most proud of:
I am incredibly proud of our community of leaders. Seeing a trekker transform into a fundraiser, Trip Leader, and then into a Program Creator and Director, is the ultimate success for us.

My message to our readers:
Trek Relief is here to provide the structure and support for anyone who wants to make a real difference. If you’ve ever felt a pull to do more than just see the world—if you want to change it while you explore it—come join us on a trip and see what we’re all about.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned—and it’s one that still humbles me—is that when you work toward something greater than yourself, the world rises to meet you.

In the beginning, I thought I had to carry the weight of these projects alone. But I quickly realized that when your mission is rooted in service, the path becomes remarkably clear. People see what you’re doing, they see the heart behind it, and they naturally want to help. There is an inherent human desire to be part of something meaningful, to be helpful, and to do good in the world.

When you channel your time and energy into an altruistic cause, it adds a layer of depth and meaning to your life that you just can’t find anywhere else. But the best part isn’t just the impact you make on a village; it’s the community you build along the way. You find yourself surrounded by like-minded, high-vibrational individuals who are all pushing toward the same goal.

I’ve learned that Trek Relief isn’t just about the ‘relief’ we provide to others—it’s about the fulfillment and connection we provide to those who join the mission. We are all looking for our ‘Golden Path,’ and I’ve found that the easiest way to find it is to start walking toward a goal that helps someone else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://trekrelief.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trekrelief/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trekrelief/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trekrelief
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/trekrelief
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@trekrelief
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/trek-relief-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@trekrelief

Image Credits
Candice Young