Carrick-on-Shannon woman set to trek Mount Everest in support of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland

A Carrick-on-Shannon woman is set to trek to Everest Base Camp later this year, bonding a lifetime experience to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. 

Carmel Donnelly (44) is a mother of two who was inspired to travel to Mount Everest by her five-year-old son, who has autism and cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited condition that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system aiming to bring "awareness of this global fight."

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Carmel shares Noah's diagnosis was "scary" and "a big shock" for her family as she "didn't know anything other than people dying from [cystic fibrosis]."

"For the first ten weeks of his life, he had an operation, and he had a stomach bug for, I think, 6 to 7 weeks. He's been through a tough time.

"We were petrified, but then all the research going into medications is a game changer for anybody with cystic fibrosis. This is basically giving people the chance to have a long lifespan as everybody else. So, we've been very lucky in that way," she said.

Pictured is Carmel’s son Noah

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease caused by a mutation. Those who inherit two copies of a mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, one copy from each biological parent, are affected.

Ireland has the highest rate of CF per capita in the world, with approximately 1,400 children and adulting living with the condition. About 33 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI). 

Carmel aims to "raise money and awareness of this global fight." On October 10, she will travel to Everest Base Camp for 18 days with her sister, Pauline.

"I wanted to challenge myself. It's like a big challenge for me. And I want to be an inspiration for my kids. 

"I always wanted to go to Everest. I never knew it was something that I could do as an ordinary person [because] I'm not a mountaineer," she added.

Carmel set up a JustGiving page to raise money to support CFI and has raised €3,908 of the €5,000 target, with 86 people helping her initiative. She will bear her own expenses for the trip, and all the donations will go to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.Her sister, Pauline, who is joining the Carriick-on-Shannon woman on Mount Everest, will raise money for AslAm, Ireland's National Autism Charity. 

Carmel said last Friday, her son Noah achieved a significant milestone after starting his new medication with Kaftrio, which increases the number of CFTR proteins helping to relieve symptoms of the disease. 

"This is a game changer for people with CF. We are so grateful and blessed that Noah gets to start this medication at such an early age. 

Carmel is organising a few events over the next few months to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis and to generate funds to support CFI. Donations can be made at JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/carmel-donnelly-o-dwyer-1680129525870?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fcarmel-donnelly-o-dwyer-1680129525870&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share.  

"This is why fundraising is so important to keep all the research, studies and support for all people with CF in Ireland," she concluded.