Alan Hinkes and WaterAid

Alan Hinkes is the only British mountaineer to have climbed all 14 of the world's mountains over 8000 metres. His summit of Kangchenjunga on the 30 May 2005 made him a member of a very elite group, more people have walked on the surface of the moon than stood on top of all these mountains.

Alan has been a WaterAid supporter since 1998. He initially got involved through Northumbrian water, and his personal experiences in Nepal have strengthened his belief in WaterAid's work. As Alan says:

"When you visit countries like Nepal, you often see people, mostly women and children, walking for hours over arduous ground to get collect water. They don't have the luxury of taps with clean water in their homes, which we take for granted. Yet it costs less than £15 to bring someone a lasting supply of clean water and sanitation".

Although conquering Kangchenjung took up most of Alan's recent trip to Nepal, he also managed to visit some WaterAid projects near Kathmandu.

Alan was guided around some sanitation projects in Thimee by Sanjaya Adhikary, WaterAid's country representative in Nepal. Alan was impressed by the efficiency of ECOSAN latrines that provide quality compost from human waste and has even suggested that rural Britain could benefit from their use.

>> Read more about Alan's recent expedition

Photos of Alan's visit to Thimee

The photos show Alan with WaterAid staff in Nepal examining the ECOSAN latrines that provide quality compost from human waste.

If you think Alan's achievement deserves to be recognised with a Knighthood, sign the "Arise Sir Alan" campaign.