GREAT ‘WAY’ TO RAISE MONEY
EPILEPSY sufferer Becky Murray has walked 800km over 32 days from Saint-Jean-Pied-dePort in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain – raising €3,645 for Epilepsy Ireland.
The 24-year-old from Cleariestown handed over the full amount of her fundraising efforts in a cheque to Epilepsy Ireland in White’s Hotel last week, in the company of family and friends.
‘I always wanted to raise money for Epilepsy Ireland after all the help they gave me as a child, so I took it upon myself to use the walk to raise money for them, but I used my all own money to fund the flights and expenses on the trip,’ she said.
Becky was motivated to complete the ancient pilgrim path this summer after watching the film ‘ The Way’ about the Camino trail through the north of Spain.
Her friends Richard McCann and Eamonn Fortune accompanied her on the gruelling trail, which took them through beautiful scenery, and they met walkers of many nationalities over 32 days.
‘Our journey on the Camino was so interesting I would go back again tomorrow because we were surrounded by such beautiful scenery and architecture and the locals were so friendly and kind, some giving free fruit along the way,’ she said
On the last day, however, the purpose of their adventure was brought into focus when Becky suffered a full seizure in Santiago.
‘Epilepsy is tough to live with but I my friends knew what to do and I realise beforehand when I am going to have a seizure and of course I had my medication with me, so it was okay thankfully,’ she said.
The intrepid Wexford woman raised a total of €3,645 over the year through door to door sponsorship, bag packing in Dunnes Stores, a coffee morning in CTEC, as well as placing a collection box in takeaway Chin Can Cook.
Wexford Chamber of Commerce president Martin Doyle and CEO Madeleine Quirke were also very supportive of Becky’s initiative and generously sponsored the walk.
Becky held an event night in the Wheelhouse Bar in Baldwinstown in May, with a darts competition, table quiz and a raffle. The spot prizes were kindly donated by local businesses, including Pettitt's SuperValu, The Yard, Whitford House Hotel, Aishling Hair and Beauty Salon, Whites of Wexford, Carraig Donn, and GameStop.