Blog
Climbing Carrauntoohil was a journey of the soul
By Mary Cantwell
This August, I was thrilled to be offered the chance to join Doras in a fundraising challenge to climb Carrauntoohil. It felt like perfect timing. My 14-year-old son had been asking to tackle this climb all summer, so it was the ideal opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: take him hiking and raise funds for an organisation that I deeply respect.
And so, the adventure began. This was my first time ever partaking in such an organised and serious fundraiser. At first, I felt hesitant. How would I even begin to ask people for support? However, as I focused on the cause, raising funds for migrants in need, my hesitation dissolved, and I became braver.
I became more and more determined with every email, text, and WhatsApp message I sent. To my delight, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. I reached out to everyone I knew, work colleagues, family, friends, groups I’d been a part of throughout my life. The support was beyond what I expected. The encouragement filled me with the drive to press on.
Then reality hit. I started researching Carrauntoohil and was soon gripped by panic. The Devil’s Ladder, the steep ascent, the sheer height of Ireland’s highest peak, what was I thinking? Could I really do this? I even found myself closing my eyes when I passed any hill or mountain, imagining only the worst, falling off cliffs, getting injured. But deep down, I knew I had to push through the doubt.
With the help of my Doras fundraising group, friends and colleagues, their belief in me started to fuel my own self-belief. Each word of encouragement made the mountain seem just a little smaller, and I began to focus less on my fear and more on the goal: raising money for people who needed it most.
As we ascended the mountain, each step became a symbol of the struggles many migrants face, steep, exhausting, but driven by hope. For us the climb wasn’t just physical; it was a journey of the soul, reminding us that strength is found in unity and perseverance.
After a four hour climb on a beautiful sunny day, we reached the peak which offered a breathtaking view, not just of the landscape, but of life itself. The vastness of the world below made our everyday concerns seem small, and the collective effort to help those in need felt monumental.
In that moment, the words of Khalil Gibran resonated deeply: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” We weren’t just raising funds; we were offering our hearts, our fears, our sweat, and our shared humanity. Though our descent took us yet another four hours, we enjoyed every moment.
I loved this fundraising experience and am very grateful to Doras for making this happen. Everyone should try it at least once in a lifetime.
Mary
P.S. Together, the hikers raised over €5,600 for migrants and refugees.
