10 OCTOBER 2018

Helen Clark announced as Patron of Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust

The Himalayan Trust, the charity founded by Sir Edmund Hillary to improve life for the people of the Everest region of Nepal, is delighted to announce Helen Clark as the inaugural Patron for the charity.

Himalayan Trust Chairman Michael Gill said: “With Helen Clark’s remarkable example of leadership, both in New Zealand and internationally, her strong friendship with Sir Edmund Hillary, her passion for reducing poverty in the world, and her love of mountaineering, there can be no more compelling Patron for the Himalayan Trust.

“Sir Ed was born on July 20, 1919, and with events being planned to mark the centenary of his birth next year, now is a great time to inspire a new generation of New Zealanders through Sir Ed’s example of generosity, adventure and his “can-do” attitude to helping others. We are delighted that Helen Clark, another of our most inspirational New Zealanders, will help the Himalayan Trust champion this message,” added Gill.

Sir Edmund Hillary established the Himalayan Trust in the 1960s when he built the first schools and hospitals in the Everest region. With the support of the New Zealand public, the Himalayan Trust continues his commitment to improving education, healthcare and drinking water in remote Nepal – still one of poorest countries in the world.

Helen Clark said: “Sir Ed has been an inspiration and a role model for generations of New Zealanders – for his spirit of adventure but also for his modesty, humanity and compassion. His friendship with the people of Nepal and his work through the Himalayan Trust to support education and health in the Everest region are a legacy that New Zealand can be proud of. I look forward to celebrating this legacy, particularly with the centenary of Sir Ed’s birth next year.”

Gill added: “Helen will trek to the Everest region next year as part of the centenary celebrations. She will meet some of the communities we work with and see first-hand the real and lasting impact of Sir Ed and New Zealand’s unique contribution to this region. She will also visit the recent work funded by New Zealanders, including some of the 150 earthquake-strengthened classrooms built to replace those destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes.”

“We can think of no better way to mark the centenary of Sir Ed’s birth, than to have Helen Clark as Patron of the Himalayan Trust.”

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