Sir Chris Bonington, new Patron of Abaseen Foundation

Chris Bonington, who was knighted in 1996, is Britain's best known mountaineer; he has led and been on 19 Himalayan expeditions, including 4 to Everest which he climbed in 1985 at the age of fifty. He led the expedition that made the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna and he has made many first ascents in the Alps and the greater ranges of the world.

He is the author of 15 books and has presented and appeared in many television programmes. He has received many honors and in 2005 he became Chancellor of Lancaster University.

Chris Bonington said "The Himalayas including the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush have been central to my life and I have a great respect and affection for the people who live amongst them or at there margins. I am aware of the deprivations that many face in these areas especially in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. I am therefore delighted to become a Patron of the Abaseen Foundation which since 2001 has been undertaking practical and beneficial development work in health and education in the province. I am particularly interested in the mountain health project that the Foundation is beginning to develop in Chitral; whose mountains and inhabitants I hold in the highest regard"

See more about Chris Bonington on www.bonington.com