As a thank you to Cherry Lodge Cancer Care, member Jane Say decided to raise money for us by walking the Senda Litoral route of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) in May 2025.
Jane’s 177-mile-long fundraising walk, from Porto to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, is now completed – and it is time for us to say a big thank you to Jane and her supporters. So far (3rd June) Jane has raised a fantastic £3,536 pounds. If you have not sponsored her already, there is still time to do so.
Please visit Jane’s fundraising page on Enthuse to read her background story, including her appreciation of the support and care she received from Cherry Lodge after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Donating via Enthuse is simple and safe.
Jane’s Camino de Santagio experience
I started the walk with my lovely friend Caroline, who was the person who really encouraged me to make contact with the Cherry Lodge team when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter who had been with me in Porto said goodbye to us as we set out on a rainy Sunday morning. It was exciting but also a bit daunting and I really had no idea what I would encounter over the next two weeks. However, as the days passed and I began to settle into the rhythm of walking anywhere between 10 and 20 miles per day it really did become a physical, emotional and spiritual journey.
During the first two days in Portugal we walked along the coast. The views of the sea and glorious sandy beaches were amazing. I quickly got used to following the yellow arrows and yellow scallop shell markers that help to guide you, and to sharing with other pilgrims the greeting ‘Bom Caminho’ (may your path be good) as you walked on. As we moved inland on day three, the scenery changed to beautiful lush fields, forests, ancient paths and bridges crossing beautiful rivers.
On day six Caroline returned home. Before she left and even though it was a rest day, we managed to walk up the 659 steps to the beautiful Santuario de Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo, a beautiful town filled with flowers for the May festival.
I spent the next three days walking alone, but, as is the way on the Camino, the ‘Bom Caminho’ exchanged with other pilgrims often leads to conversation and you really don’t have to be alone for long. People from all over the world are walking these paths and have stories to share. The newly married Canadian couple on honeymoon but wanting a meditative experience, the Portuguese doctor looking for a tranquil holiday, and two social workers from the north of England who had chosen the Camino as their challenge to get fit, were just a few of the people I met.
On day 9, after I had crossed from Portugal to Spain, another friend, Bernadette, joined me. She had breast cancer some years ago and has been a great support and inspiration to me.
The journey with her through Galicia, this northern part of Spain, was also fabulous. The scenery remained green and varied, with farms, and fields filled with vines, wild flowers and orange and lemon trees. We saw many ‘horreos’ (grain stores, raised from the ground) since these are typical in this area.
In both Spain and Portugal, beautiful churches in tiny villages, crosses and small areas marked by mementos and greetings in languages from across the world are a regular feature of the Camino paths. As we made our way north to Santiago we stayed by the estuary at Redondela, explored the medieval town of Pontevedra and ate Padron peppers in Padron!
On Sunday 18th May, I walked into Santiago with Bernadette, and another friend, Louise, and her husband, Greg, joined us. It felt fantastic. Waiting in Santiago was my son James. As you walk in to the medieval town and up the narrow streets there are many pilgrims taking those final steps of their Camino journey. It’s very uplifting! Myself and Bernadette literally jumped for joy as we stood in front of the Cathedral.
This Camino journey has given me the space to reflect on my cancer journey and the difficulties of the last 12 months. The love and support I have received from so many people has been overwhelming. My children, Alice and James, Bernard, my wider family, so many friends, Ramblers and work colleagues have all been by my side. I also want to praise the NHS and the team at the Royal Free for the treatment and care I received from them.
I say to everyone at Cherry Lodge who supported my emotional journey from diagnosis, through my treatment and beyond, your care was a lifeline for me.
And finally – thank you to all those people who have sponsored me in support of such a great charity. Love and best wishes to you all, Jane
