Famous faces, big name brands and world-renowned mountaineers are donating their time and expertise as well as personal treasures to help raise funds for the earthquake relief effort in Nepal.
Bidding opens on Sunday 28 June in a series of two online auctions led by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) with support from the Alpine Club in partnership with eBay.
More than 70 lots will be up for grabs ranging from unforgettable days out including afternoon tea with TV presenter Michael Palin CBE to a Lakeland fell walk with mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington and Doug Scott CBE to books, artwork and memorabilia including a signed photo of Ab Fab star and Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley and a rare collection of butterflies collected on the successful 1953 Everest expedition.
Click here for a sneak preview of the lots
Record breaking British mountain guide Kenton Cool will take one lucky winning bidder for a walk/climb and dinner in the British mountains. Or fancy learning the ropes with one of Britain’s best climbers? You can bid for a climbing session with Shauna Coxsey, Hazel Findlay, and Steve McClure or alpine legend Mick Fowler.
Why not put in an offer for your very own piece of mountaineering history? You could win key equipment like Stephen Venables’ crampons and Pete Boardman’s boots worn on Everest expeditions as well some of the very latest kit from top outdoor brands and unique artwork.
It is expected that the auction will generate substantial worldwide interest, since it will be an opportunity for people to collect a piece of British exploration history which would never normally come up for public sale.
The Alpine Club, whose members have shaped climbing in Nepal since it was first opened to Westerners 66 years ago, is supporting this venture and its members have generously donated some valuable items of remarkable significance. These include:
- 1953 Everest expedition team member Mike Westmacott’s collection of moths and butterflies collected during the 1953 Everest expedition
- Everest 1953 silver engraved cigarette box
- Himalayan paintings by James Hart-Dyke and Julian Cooper
The auction will be held on eBay’s dedicated charity section and will go live on Sunday 28 June.
Link from
www.thebmc.co.uk/bmc4nepal #BMC4Nepal
Proceeds from the auction will go to Community Action Nepal (CAN), providing long-term support to the mountain people of Nepal. CAN is a UK based charity whose aim is to help the mountain people of Nepal through operating medical posts, schools and mountain porter rescue shelters. The charity was founded by Doug Scott CBE, who in 1975 made the first British ascent of Everest. Many of the mountain communities in which CAN’s 40+ projects are based have been devastated or displaced by the earthquake.
Proceeds from selected items, including top of the range gear from Sherpa Adventure Gear, will go to help the Paldorje Sherpa Education Fund to provide immediate relief on the ground to benefit the children of Sherpa families in remote villages.
BMC patrons and former Alpine Club presidents Sir Chris Bonington and Doug Scott CBE, who recently took part in a 24 hour ice climb for CAN, said “We're calling for everyone to get behind this auction. It’s your chance to bid for some very unique items – including us!”
Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott CBE and Leo Houlding joined BMC president Rehan Siddiqui to record a video message to encourage people to bid. They said. “We’re all mountaineers helping the mountain people of Nepal. It’s an online auction so we don’t have a hammer, but we do have an ice axe! So please dig deep and bid high. Make mountaineering history and help us, help the people of Nepal.”
The auction is the brainchild of new BMC president Rehan Siddiqui who said:
“It’s been almost two months since the catastrophe in Nepal shocked and saddened the world, and the immediate attention of media has moved away from the earthquake in Nepal"
"It is important that we refocus the media's attention on the problems of the Nepalese people and we hope that international interest in this auction will generate substantial funds for the charities.”
“Support for the Nepalese people is particularly strong amongst the mountaineering, climbing, trekking and other outdoor activities community, who have long held a deep regard for this region and its wonderful inhabitants.”
Anna Lawford of the Alpine Club said: “Alpine Club members are keen to support this auction for Nepal. Since exploration, climbing and trekking have been the main reason British people visit Nepal, we believe that the mountaineering community in Britain should be leading fundraising efforts to raise money for rebuilding Nepalese communities.”
HOW: to get involved in the auction
The auction will be held on eBay in a series of two batches.
Batch 1: Sunday 28 June to Sunday 5 July
Batch 2: Thursday 2 July to Sunday 12 July
