Proceeds of Land Rover Defender 2,000,000 auction to fund Red Cross Nepal project 

Funds raised by the auction of the two-millionth Series Land Rover and Defender at Bonhams, London, in December will go towards a major community resilience project in Nepal, says the British Red Cross.



The Red Cross will be helping communities in Jhapa, Nepal, to improve resilience to natural disasters such as heavy flooding

The auction proceeds are being shared equally by Land Rover’s two humanitarian and conservation partners: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The Born Free Foundation. The IFRC plans to channel the funds through the British Red Cross, which will work in partnership with the Nepal Red Cross to benefit an existing project in south-east Nepal.

The Red Cross plans to help communities in the flat plains of Jhapa to improve how they tackle natural disasters such as heavy flooding following monsoons, and help families and communities face everyday threats that put lives and livelihoods at risk. This includes supporting communities by teaching first aid as well as search and rescue training; supporting employment and income generating opportunities; and increasing awareness and knowledge of hygiene, sanitation and the risk of disease.

The project will also encourage the construction of flood relief projects such as reinforcing riverbanks and establishing early warning systems for impending flooding. This includes trialling mobile phone technology, including text messaging and geographic information systems (GIS) using global positioning systems (GPS).  

The Jhapa district is particularly vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters due to its location, lack of food security, poor economy and the lasting effects of civil conflict.

Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of The British Red Cross said: “We are extremely grateful to Land Rover for so generously donating half the proceeds of the sale of this one-off vehicle towards our work in Nepal.

“The Red Cross has used Defenders in humanitarian work and relief efforts in the UK and around the world since the early 1950s and has benefited from Land Rover’s support on many occasions through vehicle donations and loans.

“Today Land Rover supports us through a global partnership that aims to touch the lives of vulnerable people in 24 countries around the world. This vitally important project in Nepal – the 18th supported by Land Rover - will improve the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people and communities”, he said.



Mike Adamson chief executive British Red Cross, Dr Ralf Speth chief executive officer Jaguar Land Rover, Joanna Lumley patron, Born Free Foundation, Gerry McGovern design director and chief creative officer, Land Rover and Virginia McKenna founder, Born Free Foundation

The two-millionth Series Land Rover and Defender was built at Land Rover’s Solihull plant in the UK, with the assistance of a cast of special guests – including Mike Adamson - who added distinctive finishing touches to the vehicle.

The Jhapa resilience project, which started in early 2015, runs for three years.

Land Rover‘s global partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies aims to provide £15 million worth of support and reach hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries over a five-year period to 2018. This award-winning initiative now covers in variety of humanitarian programmes around the world, such as health awareness in South Africa; social care in Italy, Portugal and the UK; resilience in Australia; and water and sanitation projects in South Sudan and Burundi.


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