WHEN Charles Doyle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) earlier this year he asked his daughter Catrin to fulfil a promise – to walk 500 miles along the Camino Frances to help raise awareness and vital funds.
Earlier this week, Catrin, from Bangor, completed her epic challenge which took her from St Pied de Port in the French Pyrenees to Santiago in Galicia. So far, she has raised more than £3,000.
Catrin is no stranger to walking long distances having traversed many of the historic pilgrimage routes – or caminos – which lead to the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. But, she explained, this latest trip has been her most challenging yet.
She said: “Some months ago, my dad, a retired sheep farmer who spent his whole life on the mountains of Gwynedd, was diagnosed with MND.
“At the moment he isn’t too bad, but we all know how this vile ailment progresses. About three weeks ago we were chatting when he said – and this is typical of the man he is, ‘I’ve had a good and long life so I’m not bitter about this MND thing. It is what it is. But it breaks my heart thinking of the young ones who get it. The ones with their lives ahead of them, the ones with little kids. That is so cruel.’
“He looked at me, ‘While there’s still time, do you think you could do another walk? For me and all the others?’
“That’s why this Camino is different. I’ve never walked the 800km of the Camino Frances and this time I’ll be walking for Charles and others who are living with MND.”
Catrin admitted she had found the challenge extremely difficult and that she was keen to get home as soon as possible to her father who is currently being looked after for by her daughter, a medical student. She said she had drawn strength from the many messages which had been left for her on her social media channels as well as staying in some of the many donativo albergues along the route – accommodation provided by religious volunteers.
She said: “I am not a religious woman, but I have found that the sanctuary of the donativos has really helped me and given me hope when I was feeling down and as though I couldn’t carry on. Emotionally, it has been very difficult indeed.”
To learn more about the challenge, or to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/page/catrin-doyle-3. To learn more about the MND Association and the support available visit www.mndassociation.org
Photo: Fundraiser Catrin Doyle who was walked 500 miles to raise money on behalf of the MND Association.
