Leitrim trainee solicitor reaches Kilimanjaro summit for charity

Fearghal Ryan, a trainee solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard from Manorhamilton, recently took part in a charity climb of Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Ballymun Community Law Centre.

The law centre provides open-door legal clinics, free legal advice, mediation services and law education to local residents of Ballymun.

On August 12, Fearghal alongside seven trainee solicitors and two guides reached the summit of Kilimanjaro after a seven-day ascent, surpassing their fundraising goal of €10,000 for Ballymun Law Community Centre by raising an impressive €11,064.

“We’re all in Blackhall undertaking compulsory courses that trainee solicitors have to do, and we attended a lecture by the Ballymun Community Law centre and they were telling us about the amazing work that they do.

“We already had the idea of doing the climb and then decided to tie in and partner up with the law centre to raise awareness and funds for them,” Fearghal explained.

The climb was more than challenging with harsh weather conditions, but the group stayed motivated and all 10 of them made it to the top.

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“It was five and half days up and a day and a half down. Two of those seven days were spent ascending up the mountain and then descending to acclimatise our bodies to the altitude.

“The final push to the summit was on the fifth night and we went up 1300 metres in the freezing cold, about minus ten degrees on an hour's sleep.

“When we got up to the top and saw the sunrise, it was well worth it, it was lovely.

Fearghal recounted how learning they had met their donation goal provided the group with the final motivation needed to reach the summit.

“We had just found out beforehand that we exceeded our goal for donations. It was totally worth it and everyone in the group made the climb,” he added.

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Their impressive trek not only raised vital funds for the Law Centre, but also brought needed attention to the essential services provided by them. The group share a well-deserved sense of pride for completing their monumental journey.