NORTHSIDER Cian O’Brolchain has embarked on his journey to realise a life’s ambition of climbing the
highest mountain in the world – Mount Everest.
Cian (31), from Drumcondra, flew to Nepal on March 24 on what will
undoubtedly be a trip of a lifetime to help those who suffer from Cystic
Fibrosis.
Speaking to
Northside People before his flight, Cian said he realised the risks attached to
the task but was confident in his training and ability.
Nervous
“I feel great,
I’m obviously a bit nervous but I think that’s a good thing,
? he stated.
“I feel ready
because I’ve put three years of my life into training for this.
“Of course
there will be times when I’m scared and there is a chance that I might not come
back but I’m staying positive and focused.
?
Cian will be
the only Irish climber in a team of seven international climbers. He will start
his ascent to base camp on Tuesday, March 27, a trek that will take two weeks
alone.
Acclimatise
From there he
will climb up and down the initial stages of the mountain to acclimatise to the
altitude before his final push to reach the summit at the end of May.
Reaching the
peak, which stands 8,848 metres above sea level, would be a dream come true for
the capable climber who started hill walking with his father Donal from a young
age.
“I have wanted
to climb Everest all my life,
? Cian said.
“My mother
wants to know why I can’t just be happy playing tennis but I know that deep
down they’re happy that I’m pursuing my dream.
?
But Cian
assured that he would not sacrifice his safety in blind pursuit of reaching the
summit.
Safety
“I would be
hugely disappointed if I didn’t make it to the top but my safety will always be
my number one concern,
? he explained.
“It is the
highest mountain in the world at the end of the day that has claimed the lives
of many experienced climbers.
“I have a lot
of things to look after in my life after this trip and I’m not willing to
sacrifice that.
“I want to come
back and to do so with all my fingers and toes.
?
Cian, who is a
talented tennis player, also proved himself a capable climber when he was put
to the test on Mount Kilimanjaro a few months ago.
Reaching the
summit of Africa’s highest peak usually takes seven days, a feat Cian
remarkably achieved in just one day.
“It can take
five days to ascend and two days to descend but I just didn’t have that time,
?
he explained.
“My girlfriend
got altitude sickness on the way up so I brought her back down and raced as
fast as I could back up because I had left another friend up there.
Test
“It certainly
was a test of my fitness and I was thrilled to have been able to do it.
?
Cian’s idea to
raise money for Cystic Fibrosis came about when he began coaching tennis to a
child who suffers from the condition.
He believes the
charity and the challenge are well matched, as he will struggle to breathe and
fill his lungs with oxygen like those with CF experience on a daily basis.
For more
information or to donate, visit the website at www.irelandtoeverest.com.