The Road I Need To Travel

Hello,

My name is Dittany.

This is about a wish I have to walk the Camino Frances in April/May this year.

I was trying everything I could to not raise funds this way, but everyone I talk to has mentioned crowdfunding and I've finally decided it's probably the only way to get there.

My partner of 8 years passed away from Motor Neurone Disease 5 years ago, he had had a 3-year struggle with this terrible disease.

For all of January, I walked 15000 steps a day for the MND association, I have campaigned and raised money for them before too.

I don't want to go into much about Colin's death, but I just will say that I wasn't allowed to go to his funeral. This was the most devastating time of my life.

I've got to the stage now that I find the only thing that brings me respite and peace is to walk, I also need to remove myself from my world for a few weeks.

I have fibromyalgia and intermittent claudication in my left leg, so it can be tough I also now have a growth on my knee which when it first appeared was absolute agony, it's not as bad now but I have been sent for an MRI, as they can, very occasionally, be malignant. I am pleased to say it is not malignant but is due to calcification and can be quite painful at times still.

I'm very bad at asking for help so this has been very hard for me to do.

I'm going to be walking 500 miles on this Camino and I think it will take me about 6 weeks. I have most of the clothes I need and now a rucksack, thanks to the donations so far. I have worked out that I need between 30-50 Euros a day( hoping to do it nearer the 30 mark) for the time, plus getting there and back. I won't fly any more so it will be by train and bus. I will be staying in hostels along the way with possibly a b&b once or twice just to have some privacy. I have since booked Train to Paris, an overnight bus to Bayonne, a train to St Jean Pied de Port and two nights there in a 4-bed dormitory.

This walk will give me a chance to think and have some peace. I have to book some travel insurance now too.

I have done many walks, and fundraisers for charity but feel the need, just for once, to try to do something for myself. Although I have already raised quite a bit thanks to lovely, generous donations from people, I have about half of it left so far due to bookings and buying some gear.

If there is anything left after my trip from this fundraiser, (I know it's a large target) the surplus will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association Gloucestershire branch which helped Colin and me hugely.

Thank you so much for looking at this and giving me your time.

Ultreia (Onward)

Dittany x