On the 16th September 2003 at the Royal Geographical Society, George Lowe CNZM, OBE, one of the 1953 Everest party, will introduce the BBC documentary film “The Race for Everest” by award winning director Mick Conefrey.

The British climbers were almost beaten by a rival Swiss attempt in 1952 and only managed to reach the summit after a huge team effort. This definitive documentary features much previously unseen archive material and dramatic eye-witness testimony from members of both the British and Swiss teams to tell the inside story of this epic adventure and throws new light on the controversies that followed. The screening is a fund raising event on behalf of The Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust UK and KINOE (Kids In Need OF Education). Sir Edmund Hillary has made repeated visits to Nepal, since he became the first man to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.

He has dedicated himself to helping, with the support of the Sherpas; to create schools, hospitals and health centres. He is also responsible for setting up a programme aimed at limiting the environmental damage through the nurturing and planting of young trees. The trust focuses on long term solutions to problems that confront the Sherpas and is entirely reliant on volunteers. KINOE is a UK based charity established in 1996 to fund educational projects for children living in Nepal and India. In India, Akanksa (“aspiration”) is an education programme which gives children who live in slums the education, training and skills to change their lives. Through KINOE donations, Akanksa now supports over 1,700 children in thirty one centres. In Nepal, KINOE, sponsor a number of projects including the building of a school in Lubra in the Mustang district plus supporting an orphanage in Kathmandu.

Money raised from this event will go towards the Lo Kunphen traditional Medical Centre in Upper Mustang. Twenty five pupils at the school pursue both a normal Curriculum and studies into ancient Tibetan medical practices as part of a seven year programme – built and maintained by KINOE. If you would like to attend this one off film screening and be part of this fascinating story then please send a cheque for £10 per ticket, made payable to KINOE, together with a stamped addressed envelope to Carla Blake 1 Rowfant Road, London, SW17 7AP, telephone: 020 8673 8564 or email her at carla.blake@virgin.net. Tickets will also be available on the door. Tuesday 16th September 2003 at 7.15pm The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7

« Back