George Ullrich and team to free route for Esther Benjamins Trust.

George Ullrich, Peter Rhodes and Kinloch (Mason) Earl, will attempt the first free ascent of a new route on Cerro Catedral 10 in Torres del Paine, Patagonia, South America. This route is an established aid route which has only recently been repeated, and never before free'd.  1000 metres in height it is reputed to have some of the best granite in the area with countless possibilities for new lines.   

The idea, originally conceived by Peter and Mason, will be a six-week arduous expedition and is also being undertaken in order to raise awareness of The Esther Benjamins Trust (EBT). EBT is a UK-registered charity leading the way in the rescue, rehabilitation and long-term residential care of the forgotten children of Nepal.

George, 20, grew up in the Lake District and has been climbing for 10 years after being introduced to the sport at the Kendal Climbing Wall. He is now one of the UK's brightest young climbers and in his short career so far has completed several major test-pieces, both at home and abroad. George also has an exclusive planetFear blog which can be found by clicking here>>>

Most recently a trip to the US resulted in the first attempt ot the infamous 'Bachar-Yerian' in Tuolumne without the use of fixed pro. His team for this challenge comprises Peter Rhodes, 26, from Edinburgh, and Mason Earl, 20, from Massachusetts, USA.  Peter's previous experience includes ten ascents of El Cap in Yosemite National Park, sometimes in as little as 12 hours. Mason spends much of his time working through routes in Indian Creek, Durango, Colorado. He and Peter climb together regularly in Patagonia. This will be the first time that George will join them.

George became aware of the work of EBT through a family friend, Namaste-UK founder, Sam Brummitt. After learning about their work he was inspired to use the trip as a means of raising awareness of the trust and fundraising on their behalf. Currently 130 child trafficking survivors along with children whose parents are in prison, and former street children are cared for at one of the EBT's three refuges across Nepal.

Here they are provided with safe, secure accommodation and good quality education and training to prepare them for an independent adult life. The Trust also helps deaf children and other vulnerable young people through support to a large school for deaf children in Bhairahawa, South West Nepal, and through skills taught at an integrated mosaic art workshop run by the Trust.

The sponsors of the expedition are Namaste UK and Beyond Hope - the UK suppliers of prAna, Metolius, Evolv, Westcomb, Western Mountaineering and Nemo. Namaste are a UK-based fair trade company specializing in gifts from Nepal and throughout Asia. They are long-term supporters of the work of EBT and proud to be sponsoring George on his expedition. Beyond Hope are providing the team with the necessary technical equipment.

All money raised will go directly to sustaining the caring environment EBT has created and provide for the country's forgotten children. For further information please visit our website at http://www.ebtrust.org.uk/

Visit the EBT Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/philipinnepal

If you would like to support this expedition by donating to the trust then please visit, www.virginmoneygiving.com/freecatedral

http://www.namaste-uk.com/

http://www.beyondhope.co.uk/