TWO brothers have scaled the highest peaks in each of Ireland’s four provinces to raise money for charity in memory of their late mother.
Timmy and Noel Donaghy undertook an 800-mile journey around Ireland over three days recently to complete their four-peak challenge.
As a result of their efforts, they have so far raised around £2,000 for the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF).
Moving motivation
The pair undertook the challenge in memory of their mother, Sheila, who died from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in August 2014 at the age of 65.
The disease was discovered when their mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and despite eventually getting the all clear from cancer, she passed away from IPF a week later.
Three of Sheila’s siblings have also since died from the incurable disease, for which there is no known cause.
The brothers at Lugnaquilla, left, and Carauntoohill (Image: Timmy Donaghy)“It was good to raise money for the charity as it is close to home,” said Timmy, 34.
“We lost our mother and several aunts and uncles to the disease over the past decade, so anything that can help raise funds and awareness of IPF is a positive.
“As well as our online fundraiser, we have also raised money offline and we will have a total of over £2,000.”
Gruelling challenge
Timmy and Noel, 36, from Belfast, Co. Antrim, began their challenge at Slieve Donard in Ulster on the morning of Tuesday, August 3 before heading to Co. Wicklow to tackle Leinster’s Lugnaquilla later that day.
The next morning they headed to Co. Kerry where they scaled Munster and Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohill.
After camping in Cronin’s Yard in Killarney, they set off on Thursday morning for Co. Mayo, where they climbed Connacht's Mweelrea before a five-hour drive back to Belfast brought them full circle.
The pair at the top of Mweelrea, the final peak (Image: Timmy Donaghy)The challenge was not without its testing moments for the amateur mountaineers.
“Lugnaquilla was tough as it just seemed to keep going on and on,“ said Timmy.
“We were also tired as it was our second mountain that day.
“Then about half-way up Mweelrea, the conditions changed and I began to feel fed up, but on both occasions, Noel reminded me what it was for and encouraged me to keep going.”
Terminal illness
The money raised will go to APF, which supports Pulmonary Fibrosis patients, funds research and raises awareness of the condition.
IPF is the most common form of Pulmonary Fibrosis, a group of relatively little-known but terminal interstitial lung diseases.
APF say around 70,000 people in Britain have a form of Pulmonary Fibrosis, of which IPF affects 30,000.
According to the NHS, there are no known causes of IPF and no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs.
Patients live for around three to five years after diagnosis.
To donate to the brother’s online fundraiser, click here.
