In May of this year I'm taking on a bit of a challenge and disappearing off to St Jean Pied de Port in France.  Those that know me know of my piousness and natural athletic ability so I've decided to go on a bit of a pilgrimage to support my son Jackys Special School.  On May 3rd I'll be leaving St Jean and spending the next 28 days walking 776km's over the Pyrenees and across the top of Spain to Santiago de Compostela which I'm planning to reach on the 31st of May.  The only things arranged are my flight out and back...everything else will be winged alongside the other pilgrims on "the Camino".

When Jacky started at Belmont Special School in September of 2021 he was largely non verbal and often didn't seem to understand what was going on in the world outside of the bubble he was lost in.  As his parents, thoughts of Jackys future seemed quite bleak and we doubted he would ever be independent or lead a happy and fulfilled life.  But the changes we've seen over the last 18 months have been nothing short of miraculous.  With support from the school he now reads, has a bunch of great friends and always has a lot to say.  We were so grateful for the changes we saw that we wanted to give something back to the school.  

Initially I joined the Friends at Belmont PTA where I'm now co-Chair and alongside a great bunch of parents and carers we've been raising funds to help the school but I wanted to do something a little more personal....and that's where I came up with the idea  of walking along The Way of St James, a journey taken by pilgrims since 950AD and maybe just saying "thank you" along the way.  Buen Camino!!