Tallaght Eco
Thursday 22 November 2012
Pupils on top of the world
Schoolchildren helped Kilimanjarao climbers raise €3k for heart group
An adventurous pair from Tallaght climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise €3,000 for the Cardiac Risk in the Young Unit in Tallaght Hospital – a trek which was supported by some very local students, reports David Kearns.
James Cooke and Nigel Fay undertook the grueling 19,340 ft climb of Africa’s tallest peak to support the CRY unit after James’s nephew was diagnosed with a serious heart defect.
Dad-of-three James told The Echo that the whole experience was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Last Friday he visited St Martin De Porres National School in Aylesbury to recount his experience to the young pupils – who together raised €714 for James and Nigel through a “no uniform day”.
James said: “I wanted to give something back to those involved with the charity (CRY) after they’d looked after my nephew so well. They do such an amazing job there, they deserve all the support they can get.
“The level of support from the local community has been overwhelming. I’d never have been able to raise this amount of money without all the help I’ve gotten. Their enthusiasm made the trek all the more worthwhile.”
The CRY charity is based in Tallaght Hospital and offers screening to those at risk of sudden cardiac death syndrome and other heart-related complications.
It also helps to raise awareness of the deadly condition in young people. The unit receives no direct government funding so donations are vital to keep it running.
To get to Kilimanjaro, the duo contacted extreme travel specialist Action Challenge, a UK-based company, who arranged the whole trip for them. “We paid for our own flights over, and once there we were joined by 23 other people. Eight of whom where from Ireland.”
“None of us had done anything like it, and until now, the most I’ve done is a good Sunday walk. That’s how it came about. Nigel and myself were walking along thinking of ways we could raise money and he mentioned his neighbor had done the climb up Kilimanjaro” said James.
Faced with climbing the world’s highest free-standing mounting, it immediately sank into the pair just what they were about to face.
“Everything up to this point had been so easy. We’d gotten the trip arranged no problem. We’d amazing support from the community in raising money. Both my children’s schools helped out, and even Shamrock Rovers let me do a collection during one of their matches.
“But once we hit the mountain, everything changed. It was real tough even with all the support on hand. There was about 70 people’s job it was to make sure we’d get through it.
“Three of the group had to drop out and quite a few others suffered from altitude sickness. But despite it all, the challenge was worth it. The climb was something I really relished because it was for such a well deserved cause.
Hoping to continue fundraising in the future, James has no plans to be taking any more trips abroad.
“I was lucky enough to have a lot of help from family and friends but I’m not sure my wife and my kids would appreciate me going away again without them.” He added.
