#WalkingForLife The Story

Where does one start with a Pilgrimage of this magnitude. It’s probably best to start at the beginning. There were way too many factors that made this happen. I’ll share a few of them.

Last year in San Sebastián I was saying to Rob, Sumaya and Prax that I think my Pilgrimages are over. Basically, I’m done.

Prax told me, “You’re far from done and there’s lots more to come.”

My brain was simply not processing all of it.

More sore feet, lower back pain, sunburn, hostel bunk beds, lack of sleep and I can go on and on. Can I go home already.

Okay, so Pilgrimages for Darren are over but clearly there is a lot more for others in need.

Here’s a pic of us enjoying Basque Country.

The trouble with getting sick and being contagious kind of confines you to your home for a few weeks. Don’t get chicken pox in January during the summer. Cabin fever of note and way too much time to reflect on life. Oh, let’s not forget the need to scratch like mad.

It’s worth sharing the funny pic.

The time on my hands made me think back to Camino Primitivo. I call it my Spiritual Camino as I had an incredible experience with the outcome to help children in need. Kick in Darren’s procrastination and then a child’s disease hits like a million mosquito bites.

It was clearly time to do something and find a way to help children in need.

I phoned Johann my business partner and told him I would like to walk a Camino for kids in need. We had done some work for the South African Bone Marrow Registry in 2017 and who better than helping kids in desperate need of finding bone marrow donors. 

I emailed the Medical Director and the answer was a very quick “Yes”.

A few more emails, a meeting and then we had a campaign. Well, I left that to Johann to plan as he knows how to do it. All I had to do was plan a Camino and walk it. It’s only 825km’s of ups and downs in Northern Spain. It’s easy right? I’ll tell you when I arrive in Santiago de Compostela on 24 July. Oh, did I mention I have a GoPro and scripts. What do I know about filming! I’ll do it to the best of my ability.

Johann needed assistance as planning a fund raising campaign that included edited videos simply ain’t easy.

We were fortunate to find Trent Nightingale an expert with video editing and sound management.

Here’s a pic of the guys, Trent on the left and Johann on the right. They make it all happen behind the scenes. #WalkingForLife would not possible without them.

Johann kicked off with many activities one being the logos for the campaign.

The colours fit in with the SABMR logo. My shirts I’ll be walking in have a similar teal colour.

The signature on our emails.

The big question is how would we get the PR right. I started with the crowd funding page. Here’s the link should you wish to support the cause. https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/walkingforlife

It’s been a struggle trying to get press. We were fortunate to get a front page article in the Parow Tygerburger. 

Every little step just like the Camino is a journey with many learnings along the way.

I then made contact with Andrée Lombard the Chairman of the Confraternity of St James South Africa to request assistance with campaign marketing during the two Camino workshops in March. Andrée agreed and we brought in the crew with cameras and videos.

The results in the pics below. Have a look at the Digital Shelf Facebook page for the videos and the full campaign: https://m.facebook.com/DigitalShelfSA/

Johann created a pamphlet, we handed them out at the first and second workshop.

The crowd of Pilgrims asking loads of questions at the first workshop.

Andrée and I at the second workshop.

Videos don’t just fall out of the sky.

This required interviews with the South African Bone Marrow Registry and a few patients. Minimal time for me in the midst of a heavy training schedule and work. The hard work was left to Johann and Trent. I met with Ubayed and his Father. 

We needed a bit more and so we planned an Activation Walk in Sea Point on 5 May. Donors, patients, pilgrim members of the Confraternity of St James South Africa and very good friends arrived to support the cause.

A beautiful day making a difference in the lives of children in need.

The South African Bone Marrow Registry received more donations after this event.

We do however need a lot more to save the next child in need.

A few pics from the activation walk.

Terry Schlaphoff (Deputy Director - South African Bone Marrow Registry

Enjoying the walk in Sea Point.

Tegan, Zyaan and I.

From Left after me, Nicole Alzina, Andrée Lombard (Chairman Confraternity St James SA), José Alzina (Cape Town Spanish Consul General)

Friends, donors, patients and Confraternity members all represented.

Some of the SABMR crew.

What does a matched unrelated bone marrow transplant cost?

The major costs fall into three main areas:  Transplant, Hospital and Donor costs. In addition to these, there are personal costs, such as travel costs between home and the hospital.

The average cost for a transplant is R550 000. Hospitalisation is approximately 1 month and the average cost is R450 000.

The cost of obtaining stem cells from an unrelated donor will vary according to the donor’s registry. A South African Donor currently costs approximately R250 000.00 (includes search, testing, stem cell collection and donor follow-up). A donor from an international registry varies according to the country of registry and the foreign exchange rate. Costs for an international donor can be as high as R500 000.00.

I knew I needed some additional training. The treadmill and long walks on the weekends don’t strengthen the upper body to handle a backpack on heavy steep hills. 

I approached Nigel Metcalf from Virgin Active Foreshore Cape Town. I was very fortunate to have him assist me for just over a month.

Johann grabbed the camera during one of the workouts and this is what resulted. We laughed a lot!