Athlone's Lavinia overcomes altitude sickness to scale Kilimanjaro

An Athlone woman who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser in memory of her late brother said she believes he was "by my side" during an extremely challenging ascent in which she battled altitude sickness.

Lavinia Connell and her partner Jason Hassett, both members of the Defence Forces, set off to climb Africa's peak, and the world's tallest freestanding mountain, in October.

Lavinia, a native of Glynwood, Athlone, managed to overcome the altitude sickness which tested her resolve - and left her temporarily blind in one eye - in the final hours of her ascent.

She described the "emotional moment" she reached the summit at Uhuru Peak in Tanzania, where she placed a photo of her late brother John Connell, an organ donor, along with a Forget-Me-Not flower which is the Irish Kidney Association's emblem.

The couple's self-funded expedition was to honour the memory of John, whose organs were donated when he died tragically after a motorcycle accident in 2005.

In setting out on the 5,895-metre climb, their goal was to increase organ donor awareness and to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association.

On Friday last, December 2, Lavinia presented a cheque for the €4,396.50 that had been raised as a result of the Kilimanjaro challenge to Carol Moore, Chief Executive, Irish Kidney Association (IKA), at the IKA's head office, Donor House, in Park West, Dublin.

Lavinia, is a Sergeant in the Medical Corps at Custume Barracks, Athlone, and her partner Jason, from Boherlahan in Tipperary, is a Company Sergeant in the Transport Corps at The Curragh.

Both are experienced with physical endurance and roughing it outdoors. Never before, however, had they scaled the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro, venturing through four climatic zones from rainforest to moorlands, alpine desert, and in their final climb, Arctic conditions, all within seven days.

With the couple now back at work, Lavinia spoke about their unforgettable adventure.

"Kilimanjaro was the most amazing experience. Fitness-wise it was no problem at all to us. Due to our Army training, everything was easily done," she said.

"However, the altitude sickness is unpredictable as to who will get it, and although I did everything advised to avoid it, like taking medication and staying hydrated, on summit night I got all the symptoms, and I lost sight in my right eye.

"That seven-hour summit was very tough. Thankfully my sight has fully returned," she said.

"I honestly believe that my brother John was by my side that night because all of the odds were stacked against me. Placing John's picture and the Forget-Me-Not flower on the top of Kilimanjaro was such an emotional moment and it will remain with me forever.

"My partner Jason was a wonderful support who was by my side throughout the challenge. We had local guides, organised through travel company Earth's Edge, who helped us navigate the territory of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was such an amazing twelve-day expedition which included seven days on Kilimanjaro Mountain."

At the presentation of the money raised for the Irish Kidney Association, its chief executive Carol Moore thanked Lavinia and Jason for their valued contribution, which supports kidney patients and promotes the distribution of organ donor cards in Ireland.

The couple were photographed with a photo of Lavinia's brother John and a candle to remind people to have the conversation about organ donation and that, over the Christmas, families of organ donors and grateful transplant recipients will be lighting candles in memory of their loved ones who gave the gift of life to others.

Prior to their expedition, Lavinia said: "I hope that by doing this climb we can increase organ donor awareness and encourage more people to carry the organ donor card, while also raising funds for the IKA.

"I cannot speak highly enough of the organ donor coordinator that supported our family and gave us the reassurance we needed at a very difficult time after John's tragic accident."

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to share their wishes and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone.

Organ Donor Cards can be requested on www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or by phoning 01 6205306 or free text the word DONOR to 50050.