Snow had stolen the light from that fateful night in the winter of 1975 when my friends and I suffered the full force of a train locomotive.
Wheelchairs, crutches, and canes for half a decade, but that was further than anyone thought I’d go; no one expected I’d leave the wheelchair they shipped me out in. But I defied their expectations and began going to GF Strong, a world-renowned Rehabilitation Centre. There I learned more than just how to walk again; I was gifted the perspective to live above my chronic pain.

Around that time, I discovered the “Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage”. I promised myself that before my 60th birthday, I would walk this pilgrimage to thank God for my mobility. Well, 60 came and went with Covid-19 bringing my plans to a halt. BUT, I have a plan; next year, when international travel is firmly secured, I am going to walk the Camino del Norte trail of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and then on to Muxia & Finisterre (known as the "End of The World").

All in all, it will be about an 1100 km walk that I will want to accomplish in approximately two months. I calculated the total expenses will be around $15 thousand Canadian dollars. The donations will go towards the following:

• Hiking Gear: boots, shoes, poles
• Weather appropriate attire
• Backpacks
• Emergency Supplies: first aid supplies, safety blanket, etc.
• Transportation: flights, trains, buses 
• Accommodations
• Food
• Travel Insurance

May I boldy ask you to consider sharing the link to my GoFundMe page on your Facebook or other social media pages to help me reach my goal and thank you in advance if you feel this is something you wish to do? Anyone interested in receiving a newsletter with pictures and entries of my trip once it is finished please send me a message via the provided GoFundMe platform, where I will then subscribe you to my travel-email. Upon my return you will also be able to view a full photo diary of my journey on Instagram @https://www.instagram.com/carol_caminodesantiago/. (You do not have to have an Instagram account to look at my account)

I want to thank you sincerely for any donations or supplies given to support my personal journey/pilgrimage and to show  that appreciation I will be planting a butterfly "parchment seed paper" (various types of seeds are imbedded in the parchment paper to allow for different regions/more chance to germinate) every day or couple of days (depending on number of sponsors I'm blessed with) of my journey with name of sponsor, a view of where I planted it and an arrow of where on my route you are planted.  In this way you will also know where I am on my route by checking my Instagram (link above) periodically throughout my journey - bread crumbs....:) The picture above is an example of this with the name of my first sponsor to this page, with the arrow pointing to Irun where I will be starting my pilgrimage/walk.  With permission, I will also be doing this with the names of businesses that donate. 

I am very grateful to be embarking on this pilgrimage on so many levels... I dare to believe!

Warmest Regards,

Carol Tanzola xx