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Lisa Curry has released a balloon filled with her daughter Jaimi’s ashes on top of Mt Kosciusko, two years after the tragic death of the 33-year-old.
The retired Olympic swimmer, 60, announced via Instagram on Tuesday that she had climbed Australia’s highest mountain this weekend and shared a gallery of photos showing the treacherous expedition.
“I needed something to focus and get out of bed, but my main goal was to carry my daughters’ ashes to the top of Mount Kosciusko,” she began.
Lisa Curry, 60, released the ashes of her late daughter Jaimi on top of Mt Kosciusko last weekend, two years after the tragic death of the 33-year-old. (Lisa is pictured on top of the mountain)
The trip, which had been postponed several times due to Covid restrictions, proved a huge challenge for the Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
“I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My beautiful friend Christine never left my side for which I was very grateful. The water is my comfort zone, not the mountains,” she explained.
“The conditions were very challenging, lots of snow, ice, rain, sleet, baby hail (sago), 60-100 km/h winds, we had it all. Once we left, we were committed. No way back. Step-by-step.’
The retired Olympic swimmer took to Instagram on Tuesday that she had climbed Australia’s highest mountain this weekend and shared a gallery of photos documenting the treacherous expedition.
“I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My beautiful friend Christine never left my side for which I was very grateful. The water is my comfort zone, not the mountains,” she explained
Lisa found the walk particularly difficult because of her atrial fibrillation – a condition in which the heart beats irregularly, often causing poor blood flow.
“There was one last hill to ‘walk’ up. It was a complete struggle for me. I could see a hazy Glenn standing there waiting for me, getting closer with every step, but I couldn’t see through my tears,” she recalls.
Once at the top of the mountain, Lisa released a small pink balloon containing Jaimi’s ashes and dried flowers from her funeral.
Lisa found the walk particularly difficult due to her atrial fibrillation – a condition in which the heart beats irregularly, often causing poor blood flow
Lisa also paid tribute to Jaimi by erecting a makeshift monument on the mountaintop, featuring a photo of the couple together, a gold plaque and two Kewpie dolls.
“An overwhelming sense of achievement and emotional anxiety with what I was about to do. The wind was extreme and took the balloon quickly, but it didn’t land far away in the snow, so [my friend] Glenn picked it up and let it go again,” she wrote.
“I honor our Jaimi by taking her ashes and dried petals from her funeral to amazing places in the country and the world. This place at the top of Mt Kosciusko is the closest to heaven I could get, so it was very important to me. Everyone has their own way of honoring those who are special to them,” she continued.
Lisa closed her post with a touching tribute to her beloved Jaimi: “Fly free beautiful angel. Never forget. xxxx’
Once at the top of the mountain, Lisa released a small pink balloon containing Jaimi’s ashes and dried flowers from her funeral.
“An overwhelming sense of achievement and emotional anxiety with what I was about to do. The wind was extreme and took the balloon quickly, but it didn’t land far away in the snow, so [my friend] Glenn picked it up and let it go again,” she wrote
Jaimi, Lisa’s eldest daughter with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 after an 18-year battle with alcohol addiction and anorexia
Jaimi, Lisa’s eldest daughter with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 after an 18-year battle with alcohol addiction and anorexia.
Lisa and Grant Kenny married in 1984, divorced in 2009, and during their marriage they welcomed three children together: son Jett, 28, and daughters Morgan, 31, and Jaimi.
Jaimi died on September 14, 2020, at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, surrounded by her family.
Lisa and Grant Kenny married in 1984, divorced in 2009 and during their marriage they welcomed three children together: son Jett, 28, and daughters Morgan, 31, and Jaimi
Lisa announced the sad news on social media, writing: ‘Our beautiful daughter Jaimi has lost her battle with a long-term illness and passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday morning with her loving family by her side.’
Lisa suffered another heartbreak in April of this year after losing her mother Pat at the age of 86.
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Jaimi died on September 14, 2020 at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, surrounded by her family