Geraldine Mullan says family's memory will help her through Mount Kilimanjaro climb

Geraldine Mullan admits the memory of her family will help her “keep putting one foot in front of the other” as she gets set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

Geraldine was the sole survivor when her son Tomás, 14, daughter Amelia, 6, and husband John, 49, died after the family’s car entered Lough Foyle on the way home from a day out in August 2020.

The nurse from Williamstown, Co Galway, made the announcement of her plans to climb the highest mountain in Africa last year. Geraldine and her friend Katie Fitzpatrick have set up a Just Giving page and have already gathered over £18,000, having set up The Mullan Hope Centre in Moville in memory of her family.

“Someone asked me recently if I had started to do a countdown on the number of sleeps until Kilimanjaro and the answer is … YES!!!,” Geraldine posted on Monday night.

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“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.”

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania - the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level and 4,900 m (16,100 ft) above its plateau base.

Later in February, Geraldine will reach her 50th and admits that without her immediate family, it will be “heartbreaking and poignant” but feels they would certainly want her to celebrate the occasion.

“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 heartbreaking 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.”

You can donate to Geraldine and Katie’s Just Giving page - called Geraldine & Katie are trekking Kilimanjaro in aid of Children in Crossfire - here.

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