A Co Donegal woman who lost her husband and two children in a tragic road incident says her late family will keep her going as she climbs Mount Kilimanjaro.
Geraldine Mullan’s world fell apart when she lost her husband and two children when their car entered Lough Foyle when returning from a family day out in Derry in August 2020.
Geraldine tried desperately to save her husband John, 49, as well as son Tomás, 14, daughter Amelia, 6 but to no avail.
Geraldine has just revealed plans to the highest mountain in Africa which stands at at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level.
The Moville woman has set up a Just Giving page with her pal Katie Fitzpatrick and the pair have already raised more than £18,000 in aid of Children in Crossfire.
Geraldine said she will “keep putting one foot in front of the other” and that her late family will drive her on.
“Someone asked me recently if I had started to do a countdown on the number of sleeps until Kilimanjaro and the answer is … YES!!!
“Only 21 more sleeps until my biggest challenge to date starts on Monday, February 17. As the start date approaches, I have a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Alongside my other 17 teammates, as we all endeavour to take on Kilimanjaro.
“We will do so knowing because of your generosity and kindness Children in Crossfire and the amazing projects they fund in Dodana and Dar es Salaam will directly benefit.
“We will take it step by step or ‘pole pole’ as they say in Tanzania along the Machame route hopefully reaching the summit on Sunday, February 23, so your prayers and well-wishes will all be definitely needed that week. Hopefully, all our training will stand to us and we enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Geraldine will reach her 50th later in February.
She admits that it will be “heart breaking and poignant” without her loved ones.
But she adds that they will certainly want her to celebrate her half century.
She said: “Also as my big milestone birthday (aka my 50th) approaches, (a little over 21 sleeps until that … actually 32, but who’s counting!) and considering what it means to reach “half a century”, I consider it an honour and a privilege to get to this age,” she said.
“In my job as a cancer nurse specialist, I have seen some of my wonderful patients not reach their 50th birthday.
“I have mixed emotions as my beloved husband John didn’t get to celebrate his 50th birthday and not having my beloved John, Tomás and Amelia there with me to celebrate will be heart breaking and poignant.
“But I know they’d want me to celebrate it and what better way to mark it and at the same time raise money for such a worthwhile charity and when I’ll find it tough going on the mountain as I’m sure I will, I will ask them to help me keep putting one foot in front of the other, just like they’ve done since 20th August 2020.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated either online or offline.”
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