Roscrea woman set for big climbs

A YOUNG woman from Roscrea has set herself a gruelling challenge of climbing Ireland’s highest mountain three times in less than one day to raise funds to help pay for the care needs of a little boy with profound health issues.

Nikita Conlon, a 36-year-old care assistant and qualified personal trainer, will start her challenge with other climbers at midnight on Friday, October 6, hoping to finish the entire three climbs at 5pm on October 7.

Funds raised will go towards the care of Noah Quish, a six-year-old boy from Monaleen, Limerick whom Nikita came to know through her work as a care assistant.

Noah was born with multiple health problems, including a heart defect, severe sleep apnea and scoliosis. He has already undergone heart and brain surgery and is due to have spinal surgery in the next few months as well as  further treatment in Austin, Texas.

Nikita, who has worked in healthcare for 18 years, became aware of Noah’s plight during a five-year stint she spent working in Milford Care Centre where she met his mother, Una.

Though having left that employment for well over a year, Nikita has kept in contact with Noah’s family. “I have also seen many posts on social media about Noah and his struggles, so I felt the need to do something to help,” said Nikita, explaining why she is taking on the challenge.

CARING NATURE

The Roscrea woman has a long record in raising funds for worthy causes, starting out when she was just 11 when she and two other young school friends went door to door around Roscrea singing Christmas carols.

It was 1998 and the Omagh bombing the previous August had resulted in the deaths of 29 people. Three little girls from Roscrea were so moved by the tragedy that they sang their hearts out to anyone who would listen, raising just over €20 for the families of victims.

In February of this year Nikita, along with two friends, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over €6,000 for the Dean Maxwell Home in Roscrea.

She then marked Mothers Day this year when she organised a climb of Slievenamon - the Mountain of the Woman - to raise cash to fund greater awareness of breast cancer.

“My whole life I have felt the need to help others and now it’s time to support Noah, and I need support to help him,” Nikita told The Guardian.

She added: “The challenge is not going to be easy, but I am going to give it my all. I have experienced hikers coming along on the day who can help me explore different options posed by the challenge of the three climbs.”

There are opportunities for people with experience in climbing to join Nikita on some of her challenge. More information on the event is available on social media.

HOW TO DONATE

Anyone would like to make a donation for Noah can do so on the GoFundMe page ‘Climbing Carrountohill 3 times for Noah’.

Also see Nikita’s Instagram or Facebook pages for options: Instagram, nikshikingadventures2; Facebook, Nikita Conlon.