TWO Irish sisters are carrying a photo of their late climbing-loving father to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The treasured photo depicts Conor O’Duffy at the African mountain’s summit nine months before he died from oesophageal cancer in 2004.
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Now 20 years on daughters Jennifer, 26, and Sarah O’Duffy, 24, are retracing the 42-year-old’s footsteps to raise money for the charity Oesophageal Cancer Fund.
The pair marked Father’s Day by setting out on the climb – and are expected to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on Saturday, June 22.
Jennifer, who was seven when her father died, told how they were determined to honour their dad.
She said: “The photo is of him at the summit with the glaciers in the back.
“We are going to take it with us, and hopefully, capture a great photo of us with it too.”
Sarah, who was four when her father died, says taking the pic of Conor with them on their Mount Kilimanjaro adventure will feel like they are making the journey with their dad.
She said: “Looking back at his amazing achievement, of climbing the mountain while he was sick with oesophageal cancer.
“That motivated us hugely to set out on this journey with each other while raising awareness and funds for the cancer that took him at such a young age and took him away from his young family.
“I think being so young when he passed away, my memories come through photos.
“I think it’s really special retracing some of his last footsteps on Earth beginning Father’s Day.
“It’s almost like maybe we are on the trip together.”
Adventure-loving father Conor was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer when he was 40 years old.
‘BUCKET LIST’
But following surgery and treatment, his wife Orla told how the determined dad decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with his brother and nephew before he passed away.
Orla explained: “It was on his bucket list to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
SYMPTOMS OF OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
ACCORDING to the Irish Cancer Society, there are a number of signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer to watch out for. They include:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Heartburn (acid reflux) that won’t go away.
- Pain in your breastbone, back or throat.
- Weight loss.
- Poor appetite.
- Ongoing cough.
- Vomiting or regurgitation of food (food that comes back up when swallowed)
“I honestly don’t know how he did it – it was pure grit and determination.
“Unfortunately, he was very unwell when he came back to Ireland so we went to his doctor.
“He had a scan and it showed the cancer had spread to his spine.
“Sadly, he died nine months later when he was 42 and Jennifer was seven and Sarah was four.”
- CLICK here to donate to Jennifer and Sarah’s fundraiser.