Swiss watchmaker Favre-Leuba will be hosting an auction on May 12 in Geneva for their Raider Bivouac 9000 watch. All the proceeds from the auction of the actual summit watch from Adrian Ballinger’s record-setting 2018 ascent will be going towards supporting the Khumbu Climbing Centre (KCC). The KCC focusses on the development and training of the vital indigenous Sherpa and mountain guiding community in Nepal. In a region where many families and communities have lost loved ones to the mountains, the KCC are doing all they can to enhance the mountaineering knowledge of the local people so that the margin of safety is raised when working in high mountain terrain.

The Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000 created history on 20th May 2018, as it became the first mechanical altimeter wristwatch to accurately convey altitude, air pressure, and time on Mount Everest. 

For sixteen years, the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation has supported the Khumbu Climbing Center to increase the safety margin of Nepali climbers and high altitude workers through education for technical climbing skills, wilderness first aid and state of the art rescue techniques.

On 13th June 13th 2019, they will be opening the doors to an earthquake-resistant, state of the art training facility that will also house a mountaineering library and medical clinic. It will also serve as a community centre and safe refuge for the 350 villagers in the event of an earthquake.