Community / ‘I had bitten off something far too big for me’ – fundraiser gives up on challenge
AN AMBITIOUS fundraising campaign in aid of Prostate Scotland was terminated after it had hardly begun following a series of unfortunate events that let lone walker Paul Bendix feeling unable to undertake the challenge.
The 64-year-old from Vidlin had set off at the start of the month to walk the famous 500 mile pilgrimage route from the south of France to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.
Local Rotary man to walk famous pilgrimage route to raise funds for charity
But following a treacherous two-day journey from Shetland to Saint Jean Pied De Port, near Bayonne, Bendix was faced with torrential downpours that not only dampened his morale but also made him re-evaluate his fundraising challenge.
“I met up with an American couple and we resolved to go the low route to Roncesvalles together,” he said as he recalled events that led to the decision to give up on the challenge.
“For the next 10 miles we enjoyed some spectacular scenery low in the valley. We began to encounter heavy showers – as heavy as even Shetland can deliver. I was relatively unconcerned as I had trained for this.
“The route turned from benign to relentlessly upward. This was partly as expected. What was not was that the rain had turned the wooded route into a series of treacherous walks where slipping off the frequently flooded path could be exceptionally bad news.
“I was genuinely frightened. In slightly more benign parts near Ibaneta I managed to fall twice in quick succession. Lucky I wasn’t badly hurt.
“Lucky it hadn’t been in the woods, where I had twice stumbled. But that left my morale at rock bottom and still sinking.
“After a final encounter with more wooded path, we reached Roncesvalles. But at that point it was clear to me I was in absolutely no condition to contend with a 16 mile walk to Akerreta, scheduled for the next day.”
He also encountered some seemingly unresolvable problems with his navigation app while the paper guidebook quickly turned into mash in the downpours.
He said that at the point he realised that tackling the 40-day challenge solo was “simply beyond” him.
“I realised that I had bitten off something far too big for me. I needed home support and an end to what was supposed to be – at least in part a holiday,” he said.
Having now returned to Shetland, Bendix said he had learned “a plethora of new things both about the world and myself”, including to do the pilgrimage in company, have pre-set mealtimes and build in additional overnight stays for recovery and stock taking.
And: “Be mindful of your own health – this is quite likely going to strain it. Little annoyances can become showstoppers.”
Bendix has so far raised £382 for Prostate Cancer Scotland via this JustGiving page.
The page will be closed in the next few days. The charity said it is up to supporters how they wish to manage their donations.
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