In September 2025, I fulfilled a dream that I had carried with me for five years: walking the Camino de Santiago.
This pilgrimage was much more than a long-distance walk. I dedicated the journey to my mother, who passed away from cancer when she was still very young. Walking the Camino became a way to honour her memory, reflect on my own grief, and raise funds to support someone currently facing cancer.
When my mother’s cancer returned after surgery, I was 22 years old and volunteering abroad. By the time I was asked to come home, it was already too late. A few weeks after my return, she passed away in my arms after the cancer had spread to her heart.
For many years, I carried feelings of guilt and wondered whether I could have done more. One of the reasons I decided to walk the Camino was to create space to process that experience. Over the course of the pilgrimage, I reflected deeply, remembered my mother, and ultimately found something I had been searching for for a long time: forgiveness for myself.
Alongside this personal journey, I launched a fundraising campaign to support people affected by cancer.
Thanks to the generosity of friends, family and supporters, we raised €720!
Initially, I considered donating the funds to several cancer organizations. However, during the campaign, I learned that the mother of a close Ukrainian friend was battling an advanced stage of breast cancer in Ukraine. After careful consideration, I decided to donate the entire amount directly to her.
I believed that the impact of the donation would be greater if it could help one person in a tangible way. It also felt meaningful to support someone whose story I knew personally and who is facing the same disease that took my mother’s life.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this campaign. Your support transformed my personal pilgrimage into an opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.
This journey taught me that healing, remembrance, and solidarity can travel hand in hand. Thank you for being part of it.
I am telling more about my Camino on my YouTube channel.
My Story 