AN IRISHMAN has set off on a mammoth challenge of climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest at a block of flats in Dublin.
On Monday, April 27, Keith O’Brien began the climb to the top of O’Rahilly House in Ringsend.
Over the next few days, Keith will ascend those same stairs an incredible 880 times, which is the equivalent of 29,029 feet – the height of the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
He’s doing it to raise money for Pieta house, a charity that provides essential services and support to those struggling with mental health problems like self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
It also provides support to those affected by suicide, working to provide free therapy to anyone engaging in its services.
However, it’s also a charity that relies heavily on public donations – something that makes the ongoing pandemic and lockdown a major hindrance to its efforts.
The annual Darkness Into Light fundraising walk would previously have provided Pieta House with some essential funding, but the ongoing public health situation has put paid to those events.
That’s where Keith comes in – from now until May 21 he will be walking the steps up O’Rahilly House to raise money for the charity – but he won’t do it alone.
After seeing his heroic efforts, a further 30 people have got involved in the fundraising campaign, each with their own climbing target put together to help generate essential funds of the charity.
The Ringsend Climbing Everest in the flats movement has already made quite the impact, having already smashed an initial fundraising target of €5,000 with donations continuing to flood in.
It’s just reward for their incredible efforts and another example of the impressive work being done by people across Ireland during these testing times.
Anyone wishing to donate to the campaign can do so here.
