Meet Crystal. Since her Addison's diagnosis in 2021, she has rebuilt her strength, competed in fitness and powerlifting competitions, and embraced new adventures. But her biggest challenge yet? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, while living with Addison’s. Determined to challenge perceptions of what’s possible with the condition, Crystal took on the climb to raise awareness and funds for the ADSHG, the charity that supported her when she was first diagnosed.
Here, in her own words, Crystal shares how she prepared for this incredible challenge, managed her Addison’s throughout the climb, and made it to the summit at 5,895 metres.
My Addison's Journey
I was diagnosed with Addison's disease in February 2021, after being really ill for a year. The first six months after my diagnosis were a bit up and down. It took some time to get the right dose of medication before I started to feel more like myself again. Slowly, I got back into training and fell in love with it all over again. I rebuilt my strength and became the strongest version of myself.
In the five years since, I've competed in multiple fitness competitions and a powerlifting competition, travelled to over 15 countries, been on lots of hikes, and even taken up surfing.
When I was first diagnosed, the Addison's Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) was my go-to for every question I had. Being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease was scary, and answers were hard to find, but the charity covered everything I needed to know.
Why Kilimanjaro?
I'm a personal trainer and head of events at Foundry, a multi-site gym in London. I wanted to organise a bucket-list trip that our members could sign up and train for, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, sounded like an amazing experience.
Honestly, I was a little jealous. I thought something like this would be impossible for me with Addison's. Then, on my first call with Jack, the owner of Legend Expeditions (the company our members would be climbing with), he asked if I was going to come. I explained my condition, and he said he thought I could do it.
After that call, the idea kept playing on my mind. Maybe I could do this.
In February this year, at my regular endocrinologist appointment, I brought it up. I think he thought I was a little nuts! But he agreed it could be possible with the right preparation and planning. I went back to Jack and told him I was in.
Why I Fundraised for the ADSHG
Taking on this challenge with Addison's was a big deal, and I wanted to give back to the charity that helped me when I was first diagnosed and felt so lost.
I hoped I'd complete the climb, but I knew there was a real possibility I wouldn't make it to the summit. Either way, I wanted to raise awareness of Addison's and to inspire others, whether they've just been diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years, to see that you can still live your life to the fullest. Addison's doesn't define who I am.
Preparing for the Challenge
Training my body
I wanted to be as physically prepared as I possibly could. I worked with my coach and friend, Tom, who kept me focused.
I kept up my strength training, aiming for three sessions a week, with more focus on single-leg strength: lots of lunges and step-ups (exercises I don't particularly enjoy!) and a big focus on core and back strength.
I also increased my steady-state cardio. The StairMaster became my best friend; I'd put on a series and spend time on it several times a week. I went out for hikes in the English countryside as often as I could, and I'm lucky to have a job where I'm constantly on the move, so I get plenty of steps in every day.
Preparing for altitude
Kilimanjaro isn't a technical climb. What makes it so challenging is the altitude, and I knew that would make breathing harder. So I practiced nasal breathing, something I wasn’t very good at. Breathing through your mouth can dehydrate you more, and you don't want that with Addison's. Every time I did cardio or went for a walk, I tried to breathe through my nose.
I also did five sessions at the Altitude Centre in London, where you're hooked up to a machine, breathing different levels of oxygen to replicate what it’s like at different heights on the mountain. They taught me breathing techniques to help control my heart rate and get enough oxygen in.
I had a phone call with an altitude doctor, who talked me through three key things:
- Hydration: drinking 4 litres of water a day, with electrolytes.
- Fuel: altitude affects your appetite, but your body needs fuel to keep going, so it was
important to pack snacks I enjoyed. A lot of sweets were eaten on this trip! - Hygiene: with a weaker immune system, I needed to be extra careful, so I took a strong
sanitiser and was extra vigilant about cleaning my hands.
Managing altitude when you have Addison's
Planning for my Addison's
I did as much research as I could into Addison's and altitude. There wasn't much out there, and I couldn't find anyone who had climbed Kilimanjaro with Addison's. I knew I'd need to double or even triple my medication to cope with the extra stress on my body from the physical exertion and the altitude. I planned exactly how much medication I would take each day and took that plan to my endocrinologist appointment the week before I left.
Before the trip, I had several calls with Jack to tell him all about Addison's. We talked through worst-case scenarios and emergency evacuation off the mountain. I had travel insurance that covered helicopter rescue and my pre-existing condition.
Our guides were in constant contact with a doctor on the ground, carried oxygen for emergencies, and did health checks every evening after dinner, checking our heart rate and blood oxygen and asking about symptoms. I felt in very good hands.
Getting my head in the right place
Mentally, I had to be prepared for the possibility of not making it to the summit. I didn't know how my body would react, and I knew a huge part of finishing would come down to mindset and staying positive. Whatever happened, I was proud that I'd trained for it and taken on the challenge.
In the few days before I left, I was so nervous. I didn't think I could do it. But my partner, Aran, kept telling me how strong I was and that I could do this, and that meant everything.
Climbing Kilimanjaro
On the Mountain
It's really hard to put into words just how incredible this trip was. Over eight days, I hiked around 70km through five different ecosystems to reach the final summit, Uhuru Peak, at 5,895m. The views were some of the most breathtaking I have ever seen.
We started in the rainforest, watching monkeys. On day two, we got our first view of the summit. It looked so far away, and it was impossible to imagine that in five days we'd be standing on top of it. Each night we slept at a different camp, often above the clouds, and we did acclimatisation hikes to help our bodies adjust to the higher altitudes.
Going from the fast pace of London to the simplicity of life on the mountain, where you have no choice but to slow down, was exactly what my body and mind needed. Every step was taken "pole pole", Swahili for "slowly, slowly", because taking it slowly helps you acclimatise.
The whole trip was so incredibly memorable, but one of my favourite moments came at the start of day three, just before we set off. All 70 of the team stood in front of us singing and dancing, with Kilimanjaro in the background. Being there in that moment and feeling their passion is something I can't put into words. I felt like I could do anything.
It's crazy how altitude affects your body. From day one, my breathing was different, and simple tasks like getting into my sleeping bag left me out of breath.
Summit Night
Summit day was the hardest thing I have ever done. I knew it would be tough, but I didn't realise how physically and mentally hard it would be.
On day six, we left Karanga Camp (3,995m) and hiked for four hours to Barafu Camp (4,673m), where our summit attempt would begin. We arrived around 1pm, had lunch, and were told to go to bed at 3pm. Even if we couldn't sleep, we were told to rest.
I managed two hours of sleep, from 8pm to 10pm. We got up, had dinner and started walking at midnight. The first six hours were in complete darkness; all I could see was the zigzag of head torches up the mountain ahead of us. It was freezing cold, and I had never walked so slowly in my life. My body just couldn't move any faster. I had a headache and didn't know how I could keep going.
Then, at 6.30am, the sun started to rise. It was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. Just before 7am, we reached Stella Point (5,756m), the first summit. The relief, the tears, the pride that my group and I had made it this far!
Then we were told we still had another 45 minutes to go to reach the final summit. Those were the longest 45 minutes of my life. My body wanted to stop and give up. My battery was low, I was slowing down, and it felt like I was walking through the thickest mud. I was starting to feel nauseous, and my head was pounding. The talk I had with myself to keep going was on repeat.
In my head, I kept saying: "One step, one breath. It's a privilege to do hard things." I kept telling myself I was doing this for everyone with Addison's, and I didn't want to let them down.
Then I turned the corner and saw the summit sign. It was a pinch-me moment. It didn't feel real. I couldn't believe I had done it.
Reaching the Top
I was standing on the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and I had done it with a rare autoimmune condition.
When I was diagnosed, I was told my life would change and that I might not be able to do what everyone else could. Now I'd done something that most people never do, and I'd done it with Addison's.
After our group photos, I stepped aside and tried to take it all in.
A wave of emotion washed over me, and I couldn't stop crying. I was so proud of myself and what I had achieved, not just for myself but for the whole Addison’s community. I wanted to give people hope, inspire them, and show them that their life isn't over when they get diagnosed.
Getting Back Down
Once the photos were done, the adrenaline and excitement began to wear off, and I really started to notice how ill I felt. I didn't want to be sick, as I knew that would mean needing to inject my emergency injection, so I had to get down as quickly as possible.
During those last 45 minutes, when I was nearly crawling to the summit, an amazing porter called Zac had been with me, carrying my backpack for the final push. He knew I wasn't feeling great, so he held on to my arm and pretty much ran me back down to base camp. The lower we got, the better I felt.
I napped while I waited for the rest of the group to come down. After lunch, we hiked down to a lower camp to spend the night before walking off the mountain the next day. Sixteen hours of walking on just two hours' sleep – my body was definitely feeling it!
Managing My Medication on the Mountain
I took a pill box with multiple compartments and had all my medication planned out. For the first six days, I pretty much doubled my doses. Summit night was different because we started walking at midnight, so I took a dose every few hours as we climbed.
I carried two emergency injection kits in hard-shell cases. On summit night it was around -10°C, so I kept the case close to my body to stop the vial from freezing. At the start of the trip, the guides were shown how to give my emergency injection if I needed it.
I also made sure I drank plenty: at least 4 litres a day, starting and ending each day with electrolytes.
The Real Heroes
The real heroes of this trip were the team from Legend Expeditions. For our group of 12, a team of 70 people looked after us, and it felt like one big family. The porters ran ahead and had the whole campsite set up before we arrived; we even had hot showers! The chefs cooked us incredible meals. And the guides were amazing: they sang to us, held people's hands, carried our water and bags, and didn't let anyone give up. I couldn't have done it without them.
My Advice to Others with Addison's
Everyone's Addison's, and every illness, is different. Not everyone will want to climb Kilimanjaro, but you might have your own version of a mountain you want to climb. If you put your mind to it, so much more is possible than we think.
It's important to work with your medical team before taking on a challenge like this.
Addison's doesn't define who you are, and it doesn't have to stop you from doing the things you love. It just means doing them a little differently.
Follow Crystal journey on Instagram @crystallee.banks
Read Crystal's Blog about exercising with Addison's