05/09/2026
Can you believe it's been 4 weeks since The Original Mourne Seven Sevens Challenge Walk 2026.
And we are delighted to share the story of 3 of our epic participants - raising funds and awareness for their chosen charity HHT Ireland
❤️ 7 PEAKS. 3 LADS. 3 MISSIONS. ONE VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE. ❤️
On Saturday 8th August, Dean, Simon and Kris took on our Mournes 7x7 Challenge with three clear missions in mind,
1️⃣ Complete their personal challenge
2️⃣ Raise awareness for HHT Ireland
3️⃣ Raise funds to help support the charity and the families living with HHT
You may have spotted them out on the peaks because, let’s be honest, they definitely stood out from the crowd in their bright red HHT Ireland T-shirts and hats!
But behind those red shirts was a much bigger reason for them being there.
So, what exactly is HHT?
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia, or HHT, is a rare genetic blood-vessel disorder. In simple terms, some of the blood vessels in the body don’t form normally and can become fragile, causing them to bleed.
For many people, one of the first signs is unexplained, recurrent nosebleeds.
But HHT can affect much more than the nose. Abnormal blood vessels can develop in the stomach and bowel, lungs, liver and brain and can sometimes cause serious complications, including stroke.
HHT affects around 1 in 5,000 people, yet approximately 90% of those affected remain undiagnosed.
That means there are families out there who may have been living with unexplained nosebleeds, anaemia, unexplained bleeding or other bleeding complications for years without knowing there could be a genetic condition behind them.
HHT is hereditary, meaning if a parent has HHT, there is a 50% chance of passing the condition on to each child.
There is currently no cure for HHT, but there are treatments and ways of managing the condition, including treating abnormal blood vessels and managing the iron-deficiency anaemia caused by blood loss.
Here at HHT Ireland we are incredibly proud that Dean, Simon and Kris chose our challenge as a way of shining a light on us 🩸