Tipperary man and his partner reach summit of world's tallest freestanding mountain

Boherlahan man Jason Hassett, and his partner Lavinia Connell, successfully climbed the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in October.

The dynamic duo, both of whom work in the Defence Forces, undertook the challenge as part of a self-funded expedition to honour the memory of Lavinia’s late brother John, whose organs were donated after his untimely passing seventeen years ago.

The altitude presented some unwelcome challenges in the final hours of ascent.

ABOVE: Lavinia Connell and Jason Hassett with a photo of Lavinia’s late brother, John, an organ donor, at the IKA’s Head Office Donor House

Lavinia, from Athlone, described it as an “emotional moment” on reaching the summit at Uhuru Peak in Tanzania when she placed a photo of her late brother John, an organ donor, along with a forget-me-not flower, the Irish Kidney Association’s emblem.

In doing the 5,895 metres climb, their goal was to increase organ donor awareness and to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).

On December 2, 2022, Lavinia presented a cheque for €4,396.50, the proceeds raised, to Carol Moore, Chief Executive, Irish Kidney Association (IKA), at the IKA’s head office, Donor House, in Park West, Dublin.

At the presentation, Carol Moore thanked Lavinia and Jason for their valued contribution to the Irish Kidney Association, which supports kidney patients and promotes and distributes the organ donor card in Ireland.

The couple were photographed with a photo of Lavinia’s late brother John and a candle to remind people to have the conversation about organ donation and that over the Christmas all around the country, families of organ donors and grateful transplant recipients will be lighting candles in memory of their loved ones who gave the gift of life to others.

Lavinia, who works in the Medical Corps at Custume Barracks Athlone, and Jason is a Company Sergeant in the Transport Corps at The Curragh.

They are both experienced with physical endurance and roughing it outdoors. However, never before had they scaled the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro venturing through four climatic zones from rainforest to moorlands, alpine desert, and in their final climb, the arctic region, and all within seven days.

The couple are now back to work.

Lavinia spoke about their unforgettable experience.

She said: “Kilimanjaro was the most amazing experience. Fitness wise it was no problem at all to us, due to our army training everything was easily done. However, the altitude sickness is unpredictable as to who will get it, and although I did everything advised to avoid it, like taking medication and staying hydrated, on summit night I got all the symptoms, and I lost sight in my right eye. That seven-hour summit was very tough. Thankfully my sight has fully returned.

“I honestly believe that my brother John was by my side that night because all of the odds were stacked against me. Placing John’s picture and the forget-me-not flower on the top of Kilimanjaro was such an emotional moment and it will remain with me forever.”

Lavinia added: “My partner Jason was a wonderful support who was by my side throughout the challenge. We had local guides, organised through travel company Earth’s Edge, who helped us navigate the territory of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was such an amazing twelve-day expedition which included seven days on Kilimanjaro Mountain.”

Before they set out on their expedition, Lavinia said: “I hope that by doing this climb we can increase organ donor awareness encouraging more people to carry the organ donor card while also raising funds for the IKA. I cannot speak highly enough of the organ donor coordinator that supported our family and gave us the reassurance we needed at a very difficult time after John’s tragic accident.”

In a Facebook post Lavinia, a mother of one, explained how just two weeks before her brother John’s passing that her mother, Marie Connell, had overheard her son discussing with his cousin his wish to be an organ donor in the event of his untimely death. John was only 24-years-old when he was in a motorbike accident which left him on life support for a week before he succumbed to his injuries.

Lavinia said: “Amid our devastating grief, our family honoured his wishes, and the lives of five people were saved and improved by organ transplantation. We received word through the organ donor coordinator that the recipient of John’s heart was the same age as him. In our sadness, it gives our family comfort to know that our hero John’s heart is still beating in someone else and that man now has a wife and children.”

Lavinia stated on her Facebook fundraising page: “We are doing the climb in memory of my brother John to raise awareness of organ donation and the importance of carrying a donor card.”

In signing off her post Lavinia poignantly added: “Kilimanjaro will be the closest I will get to you while on this earth John.”

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to Share their Wishes and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the “digital organ donor card” App on their smartphone.

At the end of November, Cabinet approval was secured for legislation which will see everyone regarded as organ donors unless they opt out of the system.

The Human Tissue Bill aims to make organ donation the norm when people pass away, in circumstances where donation is possible.