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Namaste! This is the final thank you to all you wonderful people that donated to my EBC Irish Cancer Society Nursing Services fundraiser in memory of my aunt Judi who passed in November aged 53. An incredible €6,300 has been

Namaste!

This is the final thank you to all you wonderful people that donated to my EBC Irish Cancer Society Nursing Services fundraiser in memory of my aunt Judi who passed in November aged 53.

An incredible €6,300 has been raised that will help provide the amazing nursing services to those at the end of life care. This is an example of turning a negative into a positive, and I'm sure Judi would be delighted with the positive outcome today. She had a chance to speak with her night nurses on their earlier visits and really appreciated the work they did.

Again, I have to mention the people outside of the family that cared for Judi throughout her illness, her GP, Public Health nurse and Community nurses.

Last year I read Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte's autobiography, he said 
"life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forward", so I will keep living forwards and make Judi proud.

My journey in Nepal is coming to an end shortly, an experience not to be forgotten and I hope you all enjoyed following along. Thank you again, I will never forget your generosity and support!

Mairéad O'Driscoll.

18th February 2023

Hi everyone, just a quick update and thank you for helping raise €4,800 for The Irish Cancer Society's Nursing Services! (the fundraising page will be open for another few weeks) I'm back in Kathmandu after the most amazing and

Hi everyone, just a quick update and thank you for helping raise €4,800 for The Irish Cancer Society's Nursing Services! (the fundraising page will be open for another few weeks)

I'm back in Kathmandu after the most amazing and challenging 11 days. We reached Everest Basecamp (5364m) on Monday afternoon and summited Kala Patthar (5550m) later that evening to watch the sunset over Everest. A gruelling day followed by 3 really tough days trekking back to Lukla.

Someone in the group asked what was our 'why' for doing the trek. In 2019, when I initially booked for April 2020, my 'why' would have been because my friends were doing it. The 'why' changed in January 2023. There were times when I struggled physically and mentally but knowing that all of you had donated your hard earned money to the Irish Cancer Society fundraiser in memory of Judi kept pushing me on and ensured I didn't fail. The money will be donated to the nursing services and will assist those with a cancer diagnosis and provide support for their families.

I want to thank you all for donating, for sharing, retweeting, messages of support, I couldn't have done it without you all. 
A special thanks to my parents, Ann and Anthony for putting up with all my daft ideas (at least you know where Nepal is now), all my family, especially my aunt Joan that took wonderful care of Judi during her illness, my friends, teammates and neighbours. 
I'm blessed with fantastic friends near and far, but a special shout out to the secondary school gang. In 2022, we had our fair share of tough times and I'm glad we were by each other's sides. Don't take things for granted, go for that coffee, that walk, give them a hug for no reason even if you're planning to see them soon.

Judi would have loved the updates from this trip, the views, the food, the dogs and would have said "sure you don't need to be going off to those places, isn't Trag the most beautiful place to be horsehead". Even though we knew Judi would die and it was a happy day as she had fought long and hard, it still felt like a punch to the stomach. Those punches still come. I wish I could go across the road for a coffee and chat one more time.

I became an aunt for the first time to beautiful baby Hannah the day after Judi's funeral. I hope I can positively influence her life as much as Judi did for my siblings, cousins and I.

It was my greatest honour to help care for Judi, to be 100% available and let nothing else get in the way. It opened my eyes to the manpower, resources and communication needed to care for someone at home. So to all the full time, part time or sometimes carers, well done! To all of Judi's medical team that came to the house every day near the end, thank you!

Again, thank you for donating, the money will help provide night nursing care, some stats below. 
On average 40 night nurses work each night.
7000 nights of care were provided in 2022.
220 night nurses nationwide.

I will finish with a quote from the final episode of Derry Girls, a show Judi loved but never managed to finish. 
"So we have to be brave. And if our dreams get broken along the way... we have to make new ones from the pieces."

We will miss you and love you forever Judi xx

GRMA,
Mairéad O'Driscoll

28th January 2023

Namaste from Namche Bazaar (3440m) A quick update on the trek but before I start, I want to thank everyone that has donated so generously, from €5 to €100, I appreciate every single one of you. Some of you didn't leave your n

Namaste from Namche Bazaar (3440m)

A quick update on the trek but before I start, I want to thank everyone that has donated so generously, from €5 to €100, I appreciate every single one of you. Some of you didn't leave your names so please let me know if it was you. I totally underestimated how much could be raised by setting the target for €200 initially, we are now nearly at €2,500. This money will all go to the Irish Cancer Society's Nursing Services.

Some data on the Irish Cancer Society's Night Nursing Services:

On average 40 night nurses work each night
7000 nights of care were provided in 2022
We have 220 night nurses nationwide

40 isn't a lot when you think of it as a number, however if you think 40 people are at end of life. Tonight may be the last night a night nurse is welcomed into their home. Unfortunately these people won't get better but they will receive excellent care from their night nurses which is a massive comfort to the individual and their families. This money will make sure this excellent service can continue to the best of its ability.

I turn 29 today, some may say a 'Bazaar' way to spend my birthday. I'm grateful for technology for a number of reasons, I can update you all via social media and the fundraising page but also for Whatsapp messages. I have the birthday wish for my 27th from Judi in 2021, something I've read many times since she's passed.

A little about the trip so far: 
Day 1: Flight (delayed a few hours) from Kathmandu to Lukla and then trekked to Phakding (8km). 
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11km). 
2 nights here to help with acclimatization as we are at 3440m now. 
Day 3: Short trek to Everest View point (4km) to help with acclimatization (3880m)

We stay and eat at teahouses along the way. They are kept immaculate and the food has been pretty good so far. It's usually some kind of eggs for breakfast, and then fried rice, noodles, stew or the local dish Dahl bat for lunch and dinner. I've learned that if you order the Dahl dish, you always get offered extra portions!! 
The weather is beautiful although very cold. -11 last night going to bed so we dress in layers. I am traveling with an Australian family of 3, an American and 2 Indians. We have different guides but we always stay and eat in the same places. Our guide is Pemba, he has been working for 15 years as a guide. He works for Himalayan Wonders, a wonderful company in my experience.

It's the down season so it's so nice to have the paths and trails to ourselves. We only meet locals, some donkeys carrying supplies and lots of beautiful dogs! Tomorrow we leave for Deboche, about 16km but will stay at the same altitude so hopefully everyone will be feeling OK! We take diamox to help with any altitude symptoms.

So far one of the best things I've ever done. As much a mental challenge as a physical one, I keep Judi and all those 40 individuals and nurses in my mind as I continue.

Thanks again to everyone for the support, it's unbelievable!!

18th January 2023

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