I am going to walk the Camino Frances (764 km over 36-40 days) for cancer charities in memory of the many pals and loved ones who have succumbed to this terrible disease.

Here is my story.

I travelled in Northern Spain (Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Region) several years ago on a motorcycling holiday negotiating many walkers and trekkers en-route.  Later I discovered that they were "Pilgrims" walking the Camino (translated meaning path, road, journey) one of the many long distance pilgrimages ending in Santiago de Compostela in the North West of Spain.  I remember an immediate connection and lasting desire to return, time permitting, to take on this walk.  Up until very recently I had no additional agenda ; I simply wanted to challenge myself.  The catalyst and final driver giving the challenge complete legitimacy to me was the sad loss of one of my oldest and dearest friends to Lung Cancer at the  age of 58.  R.I.P Pedro.  Initially diagnosed with a shadow on a lung he was not much later diagnosed with Stage Four Lung Cancer.  He was told that he probably had 6-9 months to live.  He was gone in under 4 !  I was shocked to my core as were his family and friends.  Then I looked back over the years counting and naming others close to me (and my wife Mandy) who had been lost to the "BIG C".

There were so many.  Here are just some ; Chris Bargh (Melanoma) age 46,  Kieran Sykes (Breast Cancer) age 53,  Hiroko Whone (Bowel Cancer) age 58,  Major Paul Croset (Bowel Cancer) age 91,  Charlie Clayton (Lymphoma) age 58, and as I write Peter (Pedro) Nunn (Lung Cancer) age 58.

You will know many more !

The Camino Frances (otherwise known as The Way of St James) is probably the most famous of all the Camino de Santiago Routes covering 764 kilometres (474 miles) of varying degrees of difficulty and mixed terrain commencing at Saint Jean Pied de Port in France and ending in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.  It is one of the most important Christian Pilgrimages in the world originating in the Middle Ages. Legend holds that St James's remains (who was a disciple of Jesus and is the patron saint of Spain) was carried by boat from Jerusalem to Northern Spain where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela.  As with many pilgrimages they can start anywhere.  The Camino has many starting points across mainland Europe but all end in Santiago.  The Camino can be walked in stages or in one go lasting around 35 days and averaging 23 kilometres each day. The Camino is now travelled by over 300,000 "pilgrims" every year for many reasons and not restricted specifically to traditional religious Christian beliefs.

My challenge is to raise money by completing the Camino Frances in ONE GO walking nearly 800 kilometres over a period of around 35 days. The money I raise will be shared by two incredibly worthy causes.  Saint Michael's Hospice who operate in Harrogate and District and who care for those with terminal illness, particularly cancer, who are unable to receive this "final days" care elsewhere and ALSO Cancer Research in order that they have continued funding to carry on with their incredible work in finding a cure for this cruel disease once and for all.

Please give generously.  This is a 100% self funded trip. It is physically demanding. I want to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  Please reward me and Cancer Research for my exertions and blisters.  

Thank you.

Nick