Limerick teen to scale Kilimanjaro in honour of his late grandad

A REMARKABLE expedition up Kilimanjaro is being undertaken by a Limerick teenager in remembrance and celebration of his late grandfather.

Eoin Sexton, a 19-year-old from Kildimo, has raised over €3,000 in aid of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and is scaling the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world.

Eoin's grandfather, John O'Mahony, who he is completing the climb for, passed away with Alzheimer's Disease last November.

John was well known in the Kildimo community and served as a local carpenter, and caretaker of the Kildimo/Pallaskenry GAA club field for 40 years. He was known for his dedication, work ethic, generosity and unyielding kindness.

His excellent qualities were always visible, even as he grew ill.

“Even when his memory deteriorated, he would tell his wife how much he appreciated all she was doing for him,” Eoin said.

His grandfather's life inspired Eoin to undertake this impressive feat and saw him depart from Dublin Airport last Saturday, February 4, to undertake the 12-day expedition.

The expedition, which costs around €4,500, has been funded by Eoin himself who has been working a part-time job to pay for the journey.

“It was always something I wanted to do since I was very young. When I turned 18 I booked a deposit, that was my birthday present, and I've been raring to go since,” he said. Eoin is also a student studying Environmental Science in the University of Limerick.

The fundraising for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - which has been taking place in his local community and online, has gone exceptionally well for Eoin with over €3,000 raised so far.

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The Seven Sisters pub in Kildimo, along with the GAA club and the community of Kildimo and beyond have all helped Eoin reach this incredible number. “I wanted to raise money for a charity close to my heart. At the time, my grandfather had Alzheimer's and was struggling with that. We said we'd do it for him. The whole community donated which is brilliant, they really pulled together,” Eoin pointed out.

An avid climber since he was young, Eoin remembers his first big hike well. At the tender age of 11, he and his father, Christopher Sexton, scaled the formidable Carrauntoohil on a rainy day.

“I remember even on that miserable day, it was an amazing feeling getting to the top, and I've been doing it since then,” Eoin recalled.

Eoin's training has been nothing short of extensive. “Just two days after the leaving cert, my sixth year holiday was doing the Wicklow Way, hiking 131 kilometres through the mountains,” he explained.

Weekly hikes, continuing his training with Kildimo/Pallaskenry GAA, circuit training, and high-intensity interval training are just some of the preparations he has been undertaking.

Kilimanjaro is one of the tallest mountains in the world, and is known for its vast climate changes from its base to the summit. Hikers must prepare for many climates such as the rainforest at the beginning portion of the trek, to the snowy alpine conditions near the summit.

Eoin will be taking the popular Machame route and his journey will consist of trekking and scramble hiking.

“They say it's like climbing from the equator to The North Pole in the space of five days,” Eoin said.

The expedition will consist of a seven-day hike, with six days for the ascent and one day for the descent. Acclimitisation can be a common issue for hikers as the mountain stands at over 19,000 feet tall.

Eoin and the group hiking have been prescribed medicine to help acclimitise fast, and he has been taking part in high-intensity training to help too. He has also been told to drink four to six litres of water per day, eat enough food, and take his time.

In Tanzania, the Swahili phrase ‘Pole Pole’ which roughly translates to ‘take your time’, is a popular saying linked with the climb. Hikers undertaking the expedition are urged to heed this advice.

Eoin is beyond excited for the journey, and is proud to be undertaking such an achievement for both himself and the legacy of his grandfather. He will be posting content to his Instagram account (@eoinsexton03) when he has service, and is proud to represent Kildimo and Limerick on this remarkable feat.

You can donate to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Eoin's cause by searching Eoin Sexton on www.justgiving.com