topic Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer. in Living with cancer

800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

Peregrina — Wed, 10 May 2023 23:51:40 GMT

I am Peregrina. I am 68 years young. I am 17 months into my cancer journey, having survived a bowel resection, liver resection, insertion of a portacath and 6 months of the most awful double whammy chemo treatment. Some days just surviving, other days just wanting to die and other days doing ok. Now I am well, strong and healthy with all my recent surveillance tests indicating that my cancer has not returned…. “human you are amazing” 🎉🎊🙏 I am returning to Spain to walk the 800 km pilgrimage called The Camino De Santiago, leaving Oz on 10th September this year. I have no insurance to cover any cancer related mishaps as it seems impossible to do this but it doesn’t matter anymore because I have to go, this dream has kept me breathing for the last 17 months and The Camino is calling. I now have the courage to trust that all will be ok and I can do this with grace, resilience and the strength that I have had to tap into every day of my cancer journey. I have decided to dedicate my pilgrimage to Cancer Council and all the Earth Angels who continue to support me as, with out them, I would not be able to fulfil this dream. I have set up a “Do It For Cancer “ fundraising page on the Cancer Council website and will be very grateful if anyone on the online community feels a pull to support me. The link is https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/lindaverity

Ultreya everyone….onwards with courage 🙏💖

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

sch — Fri, 12 May 2023 01:21:46 GMT

Hi @Peregrina ,

Congratulations on such an amazing feat (cancer recovery).

It's great to hear you taking on this challenge.

I wish you all the best with your next challenge and look forward to following your journey as much as I can

-s

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

sch — Fri, 12 May 2023 02:09:13 GMT

Maybe @CaptainAustrali can help you with tips on preparation and publicity!

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

Peregrina — Fri, 12 May 2023 12:48:22 GMT

Hola sch, thankyou for your kind words and encouragement . I absolutely need all the help I can get if I want to reach my fund raising goal as I have never undertaken any fund raising before. How do I contact @ CaptainAustrali please for tips on preparation & publicity ? This is my third pilgrimage in Spain so I am absolutely confident that it is doable and will be a healing, spiritual experience and I am booked and ready to go, but why not also dedicate the pilgrimage to cancer fundraising ???? Seems like a great way to give back ! Any suggestions greatly appreciated . Ultreya 🙏💖

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

CaptainAustrali — Mon, 15 May 2023 01:06:40 GMT

Looks like the Cancer Council forums are a bit like the mafia .. you try to get out, but they find a way to PULL YOU BACK IN .. (um, that's from the Godfather 2 or 3, I think). Cheers mate, I'll give them a comment below, although I'm preparing for a new quest of my own right now (total circumnavigation over 15,000km) given that Captain Australia's BIG WALK was a success (in more ways than one). All the best to you !
If you're curious, I did a blow by blow journal at: www.captainaustralia.online under 'the BIG WALK'

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

CaptainAustrali — Mon, 15 May 2023 01:13:26 GMT

G'day G'day

I did a walk from Brisbane to Melbourne after (kinda) surviving (but being broken by) stage four cancer (six months to live deal, but I beat it)

It was 2200km+ and the thing is .. it was more than just some .. walk, it was a pilgrimage, and that's the most important advice I can give you - be clear in your purpose, be authentic.

Cancer research, until we pull the thumb out as a civilisation level, will always be in need of funds and support, and there will never be enough - so don't get too wrapped up in the financial performance of it, just call the charity you're helping and take their advice, and if you have friends or family, especially in the media or business, ask them to show support. That's the main key .. ask.

I raised $165,000 for paediatric cancer research - for me I don't like how people fundraise for causes that impact them directly, or their family, like some celeb who supports diabetes because their aunty has it .. for me paediatric cancer research is righteous because .. well, no child should have to endure what we've gone through, it's just wrong ... and research is about the root of the problem, rather than dealing with the consequential harm, the societal harm, making wishes and all that, it's about solving the problem, improving and softening treatments.

But yeah, good on you for taking a Quest, I hope you find something on the road and inside yourself - THAT is the most important thing, doing it with a spirit of adventure. And don't worry if anybody is looking, it needs to be better than the kind of virtue signaling stuff people do these days - be clear and pure in your own heart about your reasons, and the support will come in, I reckon. And to have that purity you kinda need to talk about it - so my advice is to share your struggle as transparently and honestly as possible, because it might just help someone in a similar boat.

Sorry, those are intangible philosophical comments I guess as opposed to practical advice.

I'm about to set out (July) on total circumnavigation of Australia (15,000km trek), and I still have some pretty crippling post cancer problems. I'm going to do it dressed as a superhero, because that's my way of consciously or unconsciously saying that we all need to superhero up and tackle the problems in our slowly declining world, we need to reach out and help ourselves and each other .. that kindness is the antidote to sorrow.

I think when you try to do something bold or unusual, you're probably also trying to make a statement, that's my other advice - if that's the case, make it with clarity .. and with a flourish 🙂

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

Peregrina — Wed, 17 May 2023 13:56:00 GMT

Hola CaptainAustrali and thankyou for your wonderful response which seriously brought tears to my eyes and has made me think clearly about how and why my pilgrimage is so important to me. Your intangible, philosophical comments are exactly what I needed to hear, and to feel, and are more valuable than any practical advice so thankyou ! Yes, I will walk with excitement, gratitude and the expectation that amazing miracles will happen….and just trust that any assistance with fundraising will happen if it is meant to be.

Raising $165,000 for paediatric cancer research is truly awesome, especially whilst dealing with, and clearly managing, your own post cancer issues. You are the very definition of a warrior !!! And, it sounds most appropriate that you dress as a superhero for your upcoming 15,000 km trek.
I will definitely check out your Brisbane to Melbourne walk and would really like to hear how your circumnavigation of Australia is going if possible ? Are you happy to share please ?
I feel as though I should apologise for chasing you down on this forum but really am not sorry as I needed to hear your story & advice… I will be honest, transparent and gracious…with a dash of flamboyance !
Ultreya….onwards 🙏👣💖

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

Peregrina — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:02:19 GMT

Hola CaptainAustrali, thankyou for responding to me. I am very happy that you have been “ pulled back in” to communicate with me. I am about to check out your “BIG WALK” and can only hope that my pilgrimage proves to be as successful, in so many ways, as yours was.

Good luck with your new quest…please share !!!
Ultreya 🙏👣💖

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

sch — Sun, 21 May 2023 15:21:55 GMT

Aw, come on man, you know it's only because we all love you so. 🙂

15,000km? That's seems like a long way. A lap around Australia?

I always meant to do part of that walk with you mate, unfortunately life with 2 young children means that sometimes life just gets in the way.

Any time frames for the next big walk?

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

CaptainAustrali — Mon, 22 May 2023 23:42:50 GMT

G'day G'day

Would have been a pleasure and honour to meet up, as it happened, heaps of people came out and joined in the walking here and there - never massive crowds (it was still in the darker days of covid), largest was about 8 of us walking down a decommissioned train line near Newcastle.

Wrote up a blow-by-blow journal with videos and pictures, if anyone is interested: www.captainaustralia.online/journal

The next walk will commence on the 16th of July, I'll do daily updates and livestreams and such on facebook (@capsbiglap) and there's also info and a contact button here on the charity's donation portal: www.capsbiglap.au

And yep .. it'll come in somewhere around 15,000km after I'm done, setting out from King George Square in Brisbane and (fingers crossed) arriving there 18 months later, less than 2 years at least. If I hobble over the line 3 years later, less great, but still .. that's my mission. Plan is a daily goal of around 35km, which leaves room to occasionally stop and recover from injury (in the case of the first walk had to do that three times, tick, leech and foot - which equates to about 4 rest days over 84 days and a rough average of 35km per day otherwise - so hopefully that math extends forward to the lap)

It's all my own strange way to recover from, actively defy, and then completely move past Cancer. (And in doing that, try and assist others, even just by telling the tale)

Captain Australia’s big lap 👣

Peregrina — Fri, 26 May 2023 08:57:05 GMT

Hola CaptainAustralia, you truly are an inspiration….thankyou !!! I have been watching your big walk on YouTube and it is a fabulous journey to be a part of. You are a charismatic character, courageous and resilient which gives me hope for my fundraising effort on my Camino De Santiago. I certainly do not have your charm and wit, nor your ability to sleep rough every night so am seeking some extra advice from Cancer Council. It seems that having a big, visible QR code is a great idea so am following that up. I guess walking the pilgrimage in Spain is my way of healing from the cancer trauma and I no longer want to be defined by this disease so am planning to move past it just like you, and hopefully raise some money to support those who held me up/kept me breathing during the really rough treatment times.

I see that you are setting off on your big lap of Oz on July 16 and I leave for Spain on September 10. I am hoping we can catch up somewhere on your walk either before I leave or when I return home in November.

I will follow you on www.capsbiglap.au and enjoy sharing your next great adventure. All the very best with your training…stay well, strong and happy. You are a legend !!
Reminds me of a quote I read…

Fate whispers to the Warrior “You cannot withstand the storm”

And the Warrior whispers back “I am the storm”.

Ultrya…onwards with courage 🙏💖👣

Re: 800 km pilgrimage with stage 4 bowel cancer to fundraise for cancer.

Peregrina — Fri, 26 May 2023 10:17:19 GMT

Hola sch, it’s great to keep in touch…thankyou 😏 I see that CaptainAustralia is planning another “big walk”, around Oz. And, judging by the YouTube stories of his last walk for cancer he will do this grand walk with humour, wit and great resilience…gotta love it ! I would just love to catch up with him somewhere on his pilgrimage…is there any chance that you can leave your little ones for a quick g’day with the Captain 🤔 His courage, strength and great hope for us Cancer folk is inspirational & contagious.

Surely if the Captain can walk around Oz, I can walk the Camino with grace and strength 🤞

Ultreya …. onwards with courage 🙏👣💖