Trekkers Talk

MS Walks are exceptionally well organised and no stone is left unturned to ensure that everyone finds it not only enjoyable but a hugely rewarding experience. Many find that the MS Walks have enriched their lives and that the friends they make on the walks remain friends for life.

Read what other trekkers had to say about their experience:

• Geraldine O Donnell

• Lorna Mitchell

• John O Halloran 

• Ann Keddy 

• Ellie Keating 

• Betty Tuite 

• David Whelan 

• Jean Maguire 

• Julian Watson 

• Brigid Kenneally 

• Eleanor 

• Kathleen Fitzsimons 

Geraldine O Donnell

 "The Trek to Peru 2009 was an amazing experience for me, especially as I have MS, the group let me lead them up to the Sun gate and down into Macchu Picchu and it was so emotional, it was an experience I will never forget.” 

Lorna Mitchell

Lorna Mitchell, the founder of MS Walks, talks about her experiences over the past 21 years. I have been privileged to have been on many walks in many countries over the past two decades but the first that really stood out for me was the Camino de Santiago. We had come up with the idea to do the walks in 1988, and came across a book called Pilgrim’s Footsteps by Bert Slader, which recounted his solo walk along the Pilgrim Road to Santiago. It turned out Bert lived in Northern Ireland and we visited him. We formed a long lasting  relationship and for many years he led the walk on the Camino.

Since that very first year, we’ve never looked back and along the way have created some wonderful stories and memories. Indeed, many occasions stand out in my mind, such as the time we were invited to sing in a cathedral. In fact, many of my memories involve music.

On another occasion, we were asked to sing in front of nuns in a convent, who all sat behind a grille. We had practised our song, and thought we were great, but when we started to sing were on completely different notes. It was an absolute disaster but behind the grille sat all of these nuns with hands up to their mouths in absolute stitches. The second verse wasn’t too bad but we decided to cut out the third.

Once, in a village called Ledigos, sadly now deserted, someone got a guitar and everyone started singing. Slowly, we could see these faces coming out from little doors around the village, and they came and joined us. They sang Spanish songs and we sang ours. We danced in the street, it was a wonderful memory.

There’s a great sense of achievement to doing the MS Walks because people have to raise money and that’s not easy today. It’s not an easy walk but it is a beautiful walk.

We were very lucky with Bert Slader who led our walk for years. He’s a wonderful man and experienced mountain climber, a wonderful asset.

Camino hasn’t been the only location for the walkers. Of course, our first walk was in France, our second to China. Other locations have included Goa in India, Thailand, Tansania and Nepal.

Twenty-one years after their conception, the walks are as popular as ever – for the past couple of years MS Ireland has been doing three a year. Already, this year scores of people have signed up to participate.

Without a doubt the walks have been very, very special to me, but I realised there was a time to pass on the helm, and I’ve passed it on to a very nice and able person, Cathryn.

It’s the culture, it’s the architecture that brings you back but most of all for me it was the people who brought me back. There has been just an incredible bunch of people who raised a whole lot or money over the years.
 

John O Halloran

I first walked with the MS Society in 1996 along the Camino de Santiago. I heard a radio ad inviting people to join the walk and I thought why not? I must confess until then I had never heard of the Camino de Santiago. My decision to join the walk was a life changing experience.

The walk was tough but hugely enjoyable. It started in the Pyrenees and took us through some spectactular landscapes, including the Rioja district, the Cantabrian Mountains, the vast plains of the Meseta to the beautiful small farms of Galicia. Along the way we walked through beautiful small villages and towns where time appeared to stand still. We saw the huge cathedrals of Burgos, Leon and Lugo. These however could not compare with the beautiful small churches of St. Juan de Ortega and O Cebreiro.

It would be hard to describe my feelings when we reached the square in Santiago after over 10 days’ walk. The sight of the magnificent cathedral took my breath away. My feelings of achievement, satisfaction and relief can only be understood by those who shared the experience.

I have just completed my 25th walk with the society and I feel honoured and privileged to have been given the opportunity to participate in them.
 

Ann Keddy

Is it really 21 years since a motley crew of marauding Irish men and women boarding Seatterys bus in Dublin, travelled to Rosslare and in the dead of night crossed the high seas to the port of Calais, France.

We took the highways and by-ways of picturesque French villages and towns to “walk the walk” to Paris for MS Ireland. We pioneers were led by the “little general” Donncha O’Duiling ably aided and abetted by a courageous slip of a girl Lorna Mitchell. She was like the “maid of Orleans” as she tirelessly herded, cajoled and moulded us into an army of MS walkers until we reached Paris, where we took the Bastille by storm. We were an infamous bunch of die hards. Tom Huban, Clare Corcoran, Jim Brewitt, Frank from east wall, Jim who sadly is no longer with us, brought along a box of Clonakilty black pudding the like of which the “chef de maison” had never seen or cooked, so the bould Jim donned an apron and cooked the breakfast. It was the best meal the French chef ever had.

The trip home was a nightmare - the sea was rough to say the least; I’ll put it to you this way it should have been a 23-hour sea journey but we were out there in a storm force 10/11 for 40 hours. Thankfully, I’m still standing and walking! I was 48 that year and feeling a bit depressed so I walked it off. After France I walked the magnificent Santiago de Compestella route. Now that’s a challenge. Crossing from Biarritz, (The playground of European aristocracy), over the Pyrenees into Spain, up and down mountains , walking through little hamlets and villages. I still have a memory of one old lady alone except for her two faithful companions, Carmen the cow and Domingo the dog. She wore a black crossover apron, a little headscarf knotted on top, industrial well boots and a shileagh-like stick in her hand. She smiled us through her little bit of land and wished us God speed in Spanish. She reminded me of my husband’s Grandmother in Wexford, who whenever anyone was going on a journey she would drown them in holy water until they were well on their way.

Some places stood out more than others for me like Burgos where “El Cid” still sits astride his horse in the town square and “O Cebreiro” high up in the mountains where miracles happen, where I saw men on horseback wearing yellow raincoats. So intent was I in watching them that I tripped over my walking stick fell and broke my nose. We listened to the sound of frogs, hundreds of them going ribbet-ribbet and as soon as we stopped to listen to them, they stopped to listen to us!

There are so many memories it is hard to recall them all such the Iron Cross where pilgrims place a stone from home, the sight of the cathedral or the singing of “How great thou art”.

I might forget names but I won’t ever forget the love and joy that is palpable among the MS army of walkers. There is a song which has a chorus of I will walk 500 miles and I will walk 500 more - that’s us – the MS army walking thousands of miles to make thousands of euros, which will improve the lives of thousands of people, and guess what…I love it!
 

Ellie Keating

I started walking for the MS Society back in 1994.  Back then, I did not know anybody who did this type of hiking. I was used to running and jogging to maintain a level of fitness, but now I had no choice but to take to the road myself. My reason for taking part was mainly because I had experienced some of the effects MS can have, as some members of my family had it.
 
The walks have had a huge impact on my life as in the friends I have made, the people I have met, my understanding for and awareness of others, “the equality of man” and my own self awareness.

Walking for MS comes with many challenges both physical and emotional but, because of our great leaders, guides and our walking co-ordinator, we have overcome most of these challenges as we are always reminded of why we are doing what we do. We have had some quiet and spiritually-moving times at certain places of devotion along the way. 
  
There is just one short story I would like to share with you from one of my experiences in Peru which has brought great joy into my life. One day when I had been suffering from altitude sickness I sat in a small square in the village of “Maras” with a co-walker, Florence, who had been a little sick also. As we watched the women knitting, and the children playing, we decided to communicate with them through body language so we demonstrated how we could also knit.  We started knitting, just to pass the time until the rest of the walkers arrived. To make a long story short, I bought the jumper I was helping with from the lady who it had taken three months to knit. She was overjoyed and threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug. Her name was Sulio. Our guide Dalmiro and the walkers had arrived at this stage so we took the photos and waved goodbye.

After that I spent some time thinking about Sulio and her 18 month old baby and how hard they worked etc. But also how happy and content they seemed to be. The following year I returned and brought the picture of Sulio and her daughter with me. With Dalmiro’s help we found her house and it was funny when she opened the door she recognised me immediately and we exchanged gifts. After that I kept in touch with them and in 2004 with the MS group the girls father, Miguel, ran up to me to ask me to be godmother to his daughter Flora Nora. I asked Dalmiro what it meant, before I gave my answer, and he told me it meant to look after her education and help her out in her life so I agreed.

In 2006, I arranged to go to them with my sister, sister-in-law and friends, where we had a very special celebration. We were introduced to all the family grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, school principal, and police force. Flora Nora’s grandmother cried with joy as she said this would give her granddaughter opportunities in life that she herself never had. I definitely feel now I have a genuine commitment, and a real connection in Peru; it means that I will have to keep the visits going.  It’s a country that I love, as just to see the joy on the people’s faces can teach us that it’s the simplicity of life that can bring us the greatest gifts. This would not have happened if I had not been a member of the MS Society and it has brought great joy.

It takes a lot of work and great leaders and co-ordinators to keep all of this going, and this we have.  I hope to continue my walks with MS for as long as I am able.
 

Betty Tuite

In January 1999 my sister-in law Mary rang me and said she had put my name down for a walk in South Africa .I was not a walker - the furthest I walked was to the bus stop. My first long walk was in Howth and by the time I got to the top of Howth Head I thought I was getting a brain tumour.  By the time I left South Africa I was hooked. In November this year I completed my thirteenth walk in the Annapurnas in Nepal.

Has it changed my life?  Yes in a lot of ways. I have walked in some of the most beautiful countries and continents in the world from Northern Spain to Africa North and South America and Asia. Each country has special memories for me from the local people we meet the guides the places we see and the experience we get out of each walk.

The experience I enjoy the most is walking along with my fellow walkers from every part of Ireland getting to know people, listening to all the different stories and learning so much about life and people or just taking time out to clear the head. At night it is great to sit around and unwind with a glass or two of wine, a chat craic and sing song.

Arriving home can be happy and sad, saying goodbye but knowing the reunion or Christmas party is just time away.
 

David Whelan

I had always heard about these treks that charity organisations run to far flung corners of the world and out of all of them the Peru trek really appealed to me. Then, around one year ago, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with MS and this gave me some kind of meaning and inspiration for the trek. I think everybody knows someone who has been touched by this disease and obviously the money raised goes to the people who need it most, which is great.

The trip was so well organised by the staff of the MS society and every one of the trekkers were so nice and instantly made you fell welcome. The year 2008 was my first trek but definitely will not be my last.
           
When it came to the trekking, nothing I could say in words could describe the natural and manmade beauty this country offers up. The days of trekking flowed into nights of fun and camaraderie in the old towns like Cuzco and Ollantaytambo.

The obvious pinnacle of the trip was the walk to Machu Pichu. Through the Sun Gate to gaze upon one of the wonders of the world, really is an awesome sight to behold. 

This trip opened my eyes to South America, the land, the people. I will definitely undertake another.
 

Jean Maguire

"My first walk along the Camino de Santiago was in 1990. Our journey started in the little village, St. Jean, at the foot of the Pryenees and leads us along tiny pathways to the magnificant old city of Santiago de Compostela. This walk has certainly got me under its spell and I have now walked it with MS for the past 12 years and, believe it or not, I am always somewhat sorry when we arrive in Santiago. I miss the simplicity of this existence and the uncomplicated companionship of those on the road."

Julian Watson

"Arriving at journey's end is always to be a significant moment but nothing could have prepared us for the Santiago we entered in 1994 after the wonders of ten days across the hills, plains, plateaux and mountains of Northern Spain."

Brigid Kenneally

"I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever walk to Machu Picchu. I heard from a friend that the MS Society had a walk in Peru and after a phone call to the MS office I was signing up for this trek. I can honestly say I was somewhat nervous about the whole thing but with some helpful advice about fundraising and training it was, without doudbt, the best thing I ever did. The walking and the scenery was just spectacular - the MS organisation and our Guides just superb and the craic great. I'll be back!"

Eleanor

"Just a quick thanks for persuading me to do the walk in Tanzania. You were right, Tanzania is very special and I really enjoyed trekking through the tiny Maasai villages, the wildlife parks and in particular the walk up to Madnara Hut on Kili gave me a great thrill. Look forward to meeting up with you and the rest of the gang at our reunion in Westport."

Kathleen Fitzsimons

When I was first diagnosed with MS 11 years ago, it was a shock to the system, but I have always remained optimistic and active. I love to walk and have never been one to sit around pools on holidays, preferring to venture into the towns to explore. Then one Sunday, five years ago, fate intervened. As I went to gather up newspapers, an advertisement for MS Walks caught my eye. That was it; I decided I’d give it a go.

My location of choice was the Camino de Santiago, an amazing place. I actually surprised myself that first year when I completed the walk. I did find it tough, and there were some days I swore I’d never do it again. But the Camino, the atmosphere and the camaraderie just get to you; I was hooked.

I’ve now walked with MS Ireland for five years, and last year I didn’t find it any problem at all. In fact, it felt like the walk had been made shorter! It’s about having the right attitude. The sense of achievement is palpable while the sense of pride that comes with fundraising and helping others is great.

There’s a great camaraderie on the walks, and we all try to help each other during the day. I’ve lost the sight in one eye, and that inhibits me a bit especially getting up and down the stairs. It’s a place where friendships are formed.

So, I say, roll on MS Walks 2009, I’ll definitely be doing the Camino again. 

Further Information

Adventure Racing - "Across the Divide" Launches NEW EXTREME Series. To view latest series please click on the following link: http://www.adventure-racing.org/

The Irish Society of the Friends of Saint James is a voluntary organisation, founded in Ireland in 1992 to promote the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north western Spain. Please visit their website to read many more stories from pilgrims who have taken the route to Santiago.