Walking for Hope: Reflections from the Camino Challenge

By Miquel León-Canete, CEO, Yes to Life

After days of walking under the Spanish skies, the Hold My Walking Stick Camino Challenge has come to an end — but for me, and for everyone who shared this journey, its meaning will last far longer than the miles we covered. This wasn’t just a fundraiser; it was a pilgrimage of hope, resilience, and connection.

There’s a moment on the Camino — somewhere between the rhythm of your breath and the sound of your boots on the path — when everything slows down. The landscape stretches wide and silent, and you realise this isn’t just a walk. It’s a journey inward.

As we approached the final days of the Challenge, I found myself thinking about how far we’d come — not only the miles behind us but the intention that had carried us every step of the way. What began as a charity challenge soon became something much deeper: a shared act of hope and community.

Over the past week, I’ve walked alongside an extraordinary group of people, each with their own reasons for being here. But we all had a shared one: we walked to remind ourselves why we do what we do at Yes to Life: to keep hope alive, even in the hardest moments.

The Camino has a way of stripping life down to its essence. Out there, there are no titles or roles. Just people, side by side, carrying stories and blisters in equal measure. We shared everything — water, laughter, deep conversations, and at times, tears. The simple act of walking together became a kind of medicine.

One morning someone said quietly, “Every step feels like a thank you.” And that’s exactly what it was — a thank you to everyone who has supported Yes to Life over the past 20 years, to every person who’s faced a diagnosis and chosen courage, to every family who’s stood beside them with love and determination.

By the time we reached Santiago, emotions ran high. There was joy, exhaustion, and that deep, unspoken sense of connection that only shared challenge can create. Looking around at the faces of my fellow walkers — Robin, Sue and Sara — I saw in them the very heart of Yes to Life. Their strength and compassion carried us all forward when our legs were tired and spirits low.

The Camino became a living metaphor for everything Yes to Life stands for: resilience, compassion, and the belief that no one should face life’s challenges alone.

When you walk the Camino, you learn that progress isn’t measured by distance but by presence. Each step, no matter how small, is enough. That’s how healing happens — not all at once, but moment by moment, stride by stride.

As I write this, our walking sticks are propped by the door, our boots still dusty from the road. But there’s one last step we still need to take — and this one, we can only take with you.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who’s donated so far, we’re now so close to reaching our £40,000 target. This support will help Yes to Life continue empowering people affected by cancer to make informed choices, access integrative care, and rediscover strength in their own stories.

Someone said to me that because the challenge took place in Spain, it wouldn’t resonate with our audience and would not generate any donations. But that assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Camino Challenge isn’t defined by where it happens — by the country, the hills, or the landscape. It’s defined by courage, commitment, and purpose. Every step we took was a step in honour of every single person we support through Yes to Life. And thanks to the generosity of our donors, the funds we’ve raised will continue to make a real difference in people’s lives. The impact of this challenge goes far beyond the country where it happens or the Camino; it’s about the heart, the intention, and the lives we touch.

If the spirit of the Camino has inspired you, please help us reach that final milestone. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a real difference. Together, we can turn these final few miles into lasting impact.Because at its heart, the Camino — like life, isn’t about how fast you walk or how far you go. It’s about who you walk with, and why.

With gratitude and love,
Miquel León-Canete
CEO, Yes to Life

“Every step we take reminds us that even in the hardest journeys, hope carries us forward. Together, we walk not just for ourselves, but for everyone, finding strength in the face of life’s greatest challenges.”

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