A woman from Surrey has reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, years after having both hips replaced, according to BBC reporting. Amanda Haynes, 47, of Frimley, completed the climb to the Tanzanian peak last week, the BBC said.
The veterinary nurse spent eight days on the trek, covering 48 miles (77km) to reach the summit at 19,341ft (5,895m). She undertook the climb to raise money for charity and collected more than £8,000 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, according to the BBC.
Haynes told the BBC the climb was "without doubt" among the hardest things she has done, physically and mentally, while also describing it as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
Why it matters
Haynes had both hips replaced in 2019. According to the BBC, she then spent several years rebuilding her strength and confidence before taking on the mountain.
Her account puts a spotlight on the long recovery that can follow major joint surgery, and on the gap between finishing rehabilitation and returning to demanding physical activity. Haynes said she hopes her story encourages people who have been through major surgery, physical hardship or doubts about their own abilities to believe that their own goals remain within reach.
The climb also produced a concrete result for the charity she chose to support. The money she raised goes to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, an organisation that trains dogs to assist people with hearing loss. Haynes, who describes herself as a lifelong animal lover, said knowing the difference those dogs make gave the challenge a greater purpose.
Rough ground, thin air and a seven-hour final push
The BBC reports that the route took Haynes across rocky and muddy ground and exposed her to rain, bitter cold and strong, unrelenting wind. She described the shortage of oxygen at altitude as making each step feel enormous.
Her approach, as she explained it to the BBC, was to keep moving steadily and to hold in mind the people who had donated, the charity she was climbing for and everything she had come through since her operations.
The final push to the top took seven hours. Haynes arrived at the summit as the sun came up above the clouds, the BBC reported.
What to watch
The BBC's South East coverage of Haynes's climb is available through its regional channels, and the total raised for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People stands at more than £8,000 according to the broadcaster.
