Deafblind woman counting down to Everest climb

2 days ago

Lilly-Mae MessengerWest of England

News image — Karolina Pakenaite recently graduated with a PhD in computer science

Karolina Pakenaite Karolina Pakenaite on a mountain side. She is wearing a bright orange puffer coat with black shoulders. She has on a light brown beanie hat and dark sunglasses. The background behind her is the view of mountain peaks with snowy white tips and a pale blue sky. — Karolina Pakenaite recently graduated with a PhD in computer science

A woman from Bath hoping to become the first deafblind person to climb Mount Everest has said she is aware of how hard the challenge will be.

Karolina Pakenaite, 29, was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, at the age of 19, causing progressive sight and hearing loss.

She recently graduated with a PhD in computer science, and is planning to climb the world's tallest peak in May.

"I feel excited but I am thinking of it with a realistic view because I know how hard it can be," she said.

On a trek to Everest base camp, Pakenaite met two deaf people attempting to be the first deaf people to reach the summit.

"That's when I realised no deafblind person has summited Everest and I thought 'what if?' and the question never left me."

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Pakenaite recently graduated from the University of Bath, where she studied how to translate visual photographs into tactile images for the visually impaired community.

Her guide dog, Bosely, who has spent the past eight years with her, participated in the ceremony as she received her degree. He will be retiring from service next week.

She said: "It was really special. I feel very, very grateful that I've had Bosely through my sight loss journey.

"And it's a coincidence that we closed our big chapters together... he has been amazing."

Colin Hawkins Pakenaite in a large red puffer coat. She is in the middle of the frame, smiling directly at the camera. She is wearing glasses with light brown rims. — Pakenaite has completed many different challenges to prepare herself for the ascent

Usher syndrome affects about 10,000 people in the UK and Pakenaite said for her it causes tunnel vision and night blindness.

The graduate found out about her diagnosis when she went for a routine eye test when she was 18 and the optician kept resetting the machine until they realised her peripheral vision was unusual.

Throughout her life, Pakenaite said due to the loss of some vision she has hurt herself by colliding with objects and others, even though she said she has been told by some people that she "doesn't look blind".

"I am doing this to raise awareness to society about the Usher syndrome and give society a better understanding of the spectrum of blindness."

Nic Delves-Broughton Karolina Pakenaite walking on stage at her graduation. She is wearing a red robe with thick yellow edges. She has shoulder length light brown hair and is wearing black heels. To her right on a lead is her guide dog Bosely, a blonde retriever. To the right of them are two university officials who handed her her diploma. One is in a black robe and hat, the other in royal blue. — Pakenaite's guide dog, Bosely, had his own special part in her graduation

She has been training for her Everest challenge for the past three years.

For endurance, she has completed a half-marathon, a winter skills course, the London Marathon, a Three Peaks challenge and an ultra marathon in Scotland.

To prepare her for the altitude she has completed a high-altitude marathon in the Himalayas and climbed Mera Peak in Nepal.

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