Tag Archives: El Camino

Fundraisers of The Month: Marie and Emma Montafia

Marie and Emma Montafia

Cause: Shake It Up Australia Foundation
Adventure: Camino for a Cure: Trek for Parkinson’s

As our Fundraisers of the Month, Marie and Emma have scored themselves a $50 donation to their fundraising page. To be our next month’s winner, make sure you’re uploading your journey to social and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired.

Please tell us a little about yourselves

Mum is 56 and lives on a sugar cane farm in North QLD She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 51 after noticing a tremor in her finger at the age of 50. Since her diagnosis, she has started her own millinery business which she has had a lot of success with.

I am 24 and live in Sydney, where I am studying a bachelor of education and arts at Sydney Uni.  Acting is my passion and I go to acting classes weekly. I also like exercising, reading, and watching Netflix.

What inspired you to sign up to the El Camino trek for Shake it Up? What was your 'why' behind the decision?

Mum and I would love to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease in our lifetime. Mum has always wanted to do a part of the Camino, so when she saw this, she thought it was a great opportunity to challenge herself and do something she’d always wanted to do AND to raise money for a cause very important to her.

My ‘why’, was very similar to Mum’s. I thought this was a great opportunity for us to do something together and make a difference in our own way. I also wanted to do this to support Mum in her Parkinson’s journey.

How are you feeling about the challenge ahead? What are you most looking forward to?

Mum is looking forward to raising as much money as possible for Shake It Up Australia Foundation, and she can’t wait to trek this beautiful walk and meet the amazing people that will be accompanying her on this journey.

I’m really excited about the fundraising and some of the events I have planned. I am so excited about going over to Spain and seeing a beautiful country, and walking the Camino with an inspiring group of people.

"I thought this was a great opportunity for us to do something together and make a difference in our own way. I also wanted to do this to support Mum in her Parkinson's journey."

Have you noticed any changes in your life since taking on your first adventure?

Mum has been overwhelmed by the love and encouragement shown to us, and the incredible generosity of people that are so willing to support us. Mum also finds she has been exercising more as she is working towards this challenge. I too have been shocked by the incredible donations, and I have been so excited about all of the event planning and fundraising that I’ve been doing. I’m finding that I’m really passionate about it and loving every second of it!

How did you promote your page online?

We both put our individual stories up with the donation page link so that people understand the reasons why we are doing this. Mum has also put it on her business page which has a further reach than her individual social media pages. We have shared the link on our Instagram pages, as well as Facebook, to hopefully reach another target audience. Posting stories every few days about our progress or anything relating to the cause/adventure helps.

Do you have any hot tips for online fundraising that worked for you that you think others could apply to their own online approach?

Message good friends and family, who don’t have social media or aren’t very present on social media, about what you’re doing, and add a link to your fundraising page.

Send a private group message to a close circle of friends asking them to share the page and to support you in your fundraising – but send messages to groups that are pre-existing (e.g. work friends, old Uni friends, sporting team friends).

Put your personal story out there, nothing too long, but enough that makes people empathise and want to read the link attached.

Make every post meaningful and different to draw people in.

"Mum has been overwhelmed by the love and encouragement shown to us, and the incredible generosity of people that are so willing to support us. "

Fundraiser of the Month

Become our Fundraiser of the Month to win a $50 donation to your fundraising page!

Take a picture whilst fundraising for your adventure and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired and your adventure hashtag. The most exciting use of the hashtag, with a fundraising focus will be our Fundraiser of the Month – it’s that easy!

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Fundraisers of the Month: Shari and Toni

Shari and Toni

Cause: Ronald McDonald Monash and Parkville Houses
Adventure: El Camino for the Kids

As our Fundraisers of the Month, Shari and Toni have scored themselves a $50 donation to their fundraising page. To be our next month’s winner, make sure you’re uploading your journey to social and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired.

What motivated you both to take on this trek?

I think Ruby has inspired us to challenge ourselves and to personally give back to Ronald McDonald House. RMH Parkville has provided support and much needed help whilst Ruby spent time at RCH. The thought of helping other families with sick children is extra special.

What are your top fundraising tips?

Try to connect with the whole community via various forms of media; social media, text message, word of mouth, print media, email etc. Sharing your journey with others is a great motivator!

Fundraiser of the Month

Become our Fundraiser of the Month to win a $50 donation to your fundraising page!

Take a picture whilst fundraising for your adventure and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired and your adventure hashtag. The most exciting use of the hashtag, with a fundraising focus will be our Fundraiser of the Month – it’s that easy!

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The Camino Frances (The French Way) – Sarria to Santiago de Compostela

 The Camino de Santiago is one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful treks in the world. Following in the footsteps of the Romans, the Knights Templar, pilgrims and modern day adventurers, trekking El Camino is an experience you will never forget. From Sarria to Santiago, you will trek under the shade of old oak trees into peaceful hamlets set against the rolling green backdrop of Galicia. At night, you will experience Spain’s colourful culture and cuisine. There are many different routes of El Camino, but below is a sneak peek of what it’s like to trek El Camino with Inspired Adventures!

DAY 1 – SARRIA TO PORTOMARIN (24KM)

Today you start out of Sarria leaving behind the gorgeous cobblestone streets, small churches and quaint tapas cafes. The day starts off with a steady climb through thick dense forest, it’s so incredibly green it’s amazing. You’ll pass small streams and moss covered trees. Pilgrims will pass you along the way calling out a friendly “Buen Camino” (wishing you a safe and happy journey). Arriving into Portomarin, you’ll cross the river and wind your way into the main square where you’ll find the Church of San Xoan de Portomarin. Pilgrims hang out at the cafes and bars surrounding the main square celebrating with a cerveza or vino after a long days walk.

Day1-Sarria
Day1

DAY 2 – PORTOMARIN TO PALAS DE REI (26KM)

Saying farewell to the little town of Portomarin, you’ll start by crossing back over the River and rise steadily on an open country trail. You will pass nice hamlets such as Gonzar and Ventas de Narón and tackle a few big hills today but be rewarded with the view from the top. We take plenty of stops, taking our time and enjoying the Camino! We arrive into the town of Palas de Rei, a small Galician village. Our hotel, the Complejo la Cabana, is just outside town with big balconies to relax after the days walk.

Day2

DAY 3 – PALAS DE REI TO ARZUA (30KM)

Today is the big one! Starting out early as we have a lot of distance to cover. The walk today also features 3 big hills with the last known as the ‘leg breaker’. We stop for lunch in the lively market town of Melide, where octopus, Galicia’s most classic dish, is readily available in the pubs and cafes that line the street. As you get closer to Arzua, you’ll pass through the pretty hamlet of Ribadiso crossing a small bridge and trickly stream–it’s a nice place to pop your sore feet into the water! Finally you arrive into the town of Arzúa, famous for it’s local cheese. You’ll find many places to eat, drink or get massages!

Day3-1

DAY 4 – ARZUA TO AMENAL (24KM)

Day 4 is one of the prettiest days on the Camino. You’ll be walking through mainly forest areas, thick with eucalyptus trees making you feel right at home. Not too many hills today, the walk is easier on the body. In the afternoon we arrive into Amenal and our hotel right on ‘the way’.

Day4-2

DAY 5 – AMENAL TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (16KM)

This is it! Today’s destination is the end of the pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela! We start by winding out way out of Amenal and alongside a main road and the airport, bit strange after being out in the countryside the last 5 days. Soon though we are back on a quiet trail lined with rows of tall eucalyptus trees. You pass through Monte do Gozo, a vantage point where you will catch your first glimpse of the spires of the cathedral in Santiago. From here you make your way down the hill and into the outskirts of Santiago. Goodbye country and hello to Santiago. From here you wind your way for roughly 4km through the streets of Santiago before you find yourself on the northface of the Santiago de Compostela Catheral. Pilgrims and locals gather here and clap people in as they make their way into the main square, the Praza do Obradoiro. You’ll find many pilgrims lying on the ground, staring up at the Cathedral and basking in the sun.

The beautiful old town of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO heritage site since 1985, is worth exploring. There are plentiful cafes, bars, shops and is home to one of the oldest universities in Spain.

Day5
Santiago1

Feeling inspired?

Check out our calendar for our 2017 El Camino adventure!

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