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Deafblind Woman Aims for Everest Summit
29 Jan
Summary
- Karolina Pakenaite, 29, aims to be the first deafblind person to climb Mount Everest.
- She was diagnosed with Usher syndrome at age 19, causing progressive sight and hearing loss.
- Pakenaite has trained for three years, completing numerous endurance and altitude challenges.
Karolina Pakenaite, a 29-year-old with Usher syndrome, is set to attempt a historic climb of Mount Everest in May, aiming to be the first deafblind individual to reach the summit. Diagnosed at age 19, her condition causes progressive sight and hearing loss.
Pakenaite, who recently earned a PhD in computer science from the University of Bath, has undergone three years of intensive preparation. This training includes endurance events like marathons and ultra marathons, as well as altitude-specific challenges such as a high-altitude marathon in the Himalayas and scaling Mera Peak in Nepal.
Her motivation extends beyond personal achievement; Pakenaite wishes to raise societal awareness about Usher syndrome and the diverse spectrum of blindness. She aims to foster greater understanding of her condition, which affects approximately 10,000 people in the UK and causes tunnel vision and night blindness.
