Wendy and Alison’s Great Walk
- The Good Company People
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
Wendy Burns and Alison Green are two of our dearest friends and long-standing supporters. Wendy has been a volunteer with Good Company since the very beginning, giving her time every week to help make sure older adults, people living with dementia and carers feel connected and supported. Together with her best friend Alison, she has taken on an incredible challenge. Starting in San Sebastián at the end of August, they are walking the Camino del Norte, a 800 kilometre route along the north coast of Spain, all to raise funds for Good Company.
This route is known as the toughest of all the Camino trails, with steep climbs, rugged coastline and long days on foot. Their hope is that each step will help keep Good Company clubs running, strengthen one to one support, and make sure no one in East Sussex feels they have to face ageing or dementia alone.
Week One: San Sebastián to Bilbao
The first week was breathtaking but demanding. The path rose from sea level to 500 metres again and again, taking them along coastal paths, forest trails, cobbles and rural roads. Wendy and Alison described it as anything but a gentle amble. They were powered on by your kind support and by the promise of pintxos at the end of the day. By the time they reached Bilbao they were exhausted but proud to have made it through safely.
Week Two: Bilbao to Santander
The second week covered 114 kilometres and more than 180,000 steps. The northern coast gave them wide beaches, dramatic cliffs and lively towns such as Portugalete and Castro Urdiales, both of which they hope to return to. The middle stretch of the week was harder in a different way, with long hours spent on roads and keeping an eye out for traffic. The final stretch was softer, with rolling hills, farmland and glimpses of the sea, and ended on a high note with the ferry from Somo across the bay to Santander.
Week Three: Santander to Ribadesella
Wendy and Alison have now reached the halfway point of their six week journey, with over 400 kilometres and 230,000 more steps completed. Week three took them from Santander to Ribadesella, with dramatic sea and sky views, ever-changing weather, four-legged companions and plenty of hot chocolate keeping spirits high. They are feeling strong and proud to be halfway to Santiago de Compostela.
Wendy and Alison are now three weeks into their six week journey, and we will keep sharing their updates as they continue towards Santiago de Compostela.
You can follow their progress and support their fundraising here:
Good Company could not exist without people like Wendy and Alison who give their time and energy to support others. We rely on community fundraisers to keep our clubs and circles alive, and to make sure older adults, people living with dementia and carers always have someone to turn to.
When the community supports the community, everyone is stronger.
