Dharamshala: Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration offered condolences on the demise of longtime friend of Tibet, Richard Charles Blum on behalf of CTA and Tibetan people.
In his letter to the bereaved wife of late Charles Blum, Sikyong wrote “I offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers to you and your family at this difficult time.”
“The Tibetan people mourn with you and celebrate the extraordinary life of a true humanitarian who devoted his life to protecting the needy and vulnerable who had nowhere else to turn. Richard founded the American Himalayan Foundation that helped people across the Himalayan region improve their lives and the futures of their families and communities,” the letter reads.
Expressing how obliged Tibetans are for the couple’s contribution in furthering the cause of Tibet, Sikyong also wrote “from the time you first met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, then as a mayor of San Francisco till now, the personal friendship that you and Richard shared with His Holiness and unwavering support for the cause of Tibet is a great source of inspiration for all the Tibetans.”
“His demise has left a gaping hole in the hearts of the Tibetan people. With his passing, we have lost a dear friend and a stalwart of the needy and the underprivileged.”