Moville’s inspirational Geraldine Mullan has announced a new quest in her journey to honour her beloved family – a climb up Kilimanjaro.
The Galway native, who lost her husband and two children in a tragic accident in 2020, has dedicated incredible energy in recent years to helping others in memory of her loved ones.
Geraldine’s charity work knows no bounds, and now she has set her sights on conquering Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, in 2025.
“This is my biggest challenge to date,” Geraldine said, sharing her plans ahead of her late husband John’s heavenly birthday.
John was 49 when he and their children Tomás (14) and Amelia (6) lost their lives in August 2020 when the car they were travelling in entered the water at Quigley’s Point. Geraldine was the sole survivor.
“What started as a beautiful family day out ended in unimaginable tragedy,” Geraldine said.
“My life changed in that instant, and every day since has been a struggle as I come to terms with losing the three most important people in my life. They were all taken in their prime, and so in essence, I am now living for the four of us.”
Building on from her work at the Mullan Hope Centre, Geraldine has teamed up with Children in Crossfire again to climb Kilimanjaro and visit the Derry-based charity’s project in Tanzania from February 15th to 28th 2025.
Geraldine said the trip will be a poignant one as it concludes one day before her fiftieth birthday – a milestone that her John never got to see.
She said: “John never got to celebrate his 50th birthday – I still have some of his unopened birthday presents (from myself and the kids) in our house. Turning this milestone age will be a mixture of emotions for me, but what better way to mark it – in honour of my family and raise more funds for the worthy charity. My cherished memories of John, Tomás and Amelia will carry me step by step up Kilimanjaro, just like they have carried me every day since August 2020.”
In May, Geraldine raised over €9,000 for Children in Crossfire from a 5km fun run/walk dedicated to Tomás, on what would have been his 18th birthday.
As Geraldine begins training for the expedition alongside her friend Katie Fitzpatrick, she is inviting people to support them by donating whatever they can to this page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/children-in-crossfire-trekkingkili25
