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Walking the CelticTrails

By Jennifer Rooks

Please Help Me Reach My Goal

Raised

$4,448

My Goal

$4,000

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$25
Provides resources to help people in the workplace support a colleague diagnosed with cancer.
$50
Makes sure there’s a cancer nurse available on 13 11 20 to offer practical information and emotional support to callers.
$230
Provides a financial assistance grant to someone with cancer experiencing severe financial difficulties, to help them travel to their treatments, pay their rent or keep their lights on.
$900
Funds a high-performing science student working in a research lab for 3 weeks, enabling them to conduct ground-breaking research into new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

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I’m walking again for cancer!

For many years I have walked long distance across many parts of the world and always for Cancer Queensland in memory of some special family members and friends who have walked the cancer path on their own and with me.

In 2025 I plan to walk again and this time the distance will be about 800 klms. My walk will start in Ireland on the Famine Way and St Declan's Way, then to Scotland to walk the John Muir Trail from coast to coast and finally Hadrian's Wall in England.

These walks should take me about 7 weeks to complete. Please support me and help me reach my promised goal. 

My Updates

Done and Dusted

Wednesday 14th May
I am now back home in Australia, walked just under 700klms on St Declan's Way in Ireland, John Muir Way in Scotland, Thames River Path and a few days on the England Coastal Path. hardly any rainy days but great walks, fantastic hospitality and scenery to die for. 

I would like to thank everyone for their support over the last 9 years, I walked and I helped Cancer Queensland. This is my last walk for Cancer Queensland but not my last long walk. 

Let the walk begin

Sunday 9th Mar
In a week I will have arrived in Dublin and ready to walk St Declan's Way.

The days are ticking away

Saturday 4th Jan
Gradually the weeks are disappearing, and I am now down to 9 weeks until I leave for Ireland. 

Now the hot/wet season has hit the north the walks are a little less in distances as I try to juggle the heat and rain. 

I am also recovering from broken ribs for the second time since mid-August so another reason why the walks are a little slower.

I have managed to organise everything required for the walk but will not pack until a few days before I leave. A new backpack, boots and jacket for this walk, everything else are part of previous walks.

The Italian Walk book has been published and with the printer for the last stage of printing. The books will be sold through me and a small fee for each sale will be returned to Cancer Queensland. 
On the Trail of the Swiss Guards. A journey from Switzerland to the Vatican.

I only have a small amount to raise before I have the promised amount.  Only $259 to raise. 

Nearly there

Saturday 19th Oct
During the week I hosted my final fundraiser for Cancer Queensland with a Cup of Coffee for Cancer at a local cafe.  $503 was raised with cups of coffee and generous donations. The total today has reached $3681, and my promise is $4000 so nearly there. I will leave the site open until I return from the walk in May 2025.

I would like to thank everyone for their time and generosity this past week. 

Training up the Valley

Saturday 24th Aug
I have not done any serious training for the walk, will rely on short walks as the days get closer. I have just finished two days up the Valley walking the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and found the body a little stiff and sore from muscles that had decided to call it a day.

The countryside is very dry, and it is still Winter, I also selected 2 of the coldest nights this season. Guess it will be a taste of Ireland and Scotland next year. I trialed some items of clothing while up there and these will be part of my pack next year.

My next trial walk will be the Atherton Rail Trail in a few weeks, otherwise just local steps. At present I am grounded after a fall down the external steps so resting the back and foot, nothing serious but enough to keep me at home.

I will try to keep the blogs up to date until I leave in March, arriving in Dublin for St Patrick's Day. This date in Dublin has always been on the bucket list.

Until the next blog. Stay safe.

The Walk is getting closer

Saturday 24th Aug
I am now down to single figures in months until I leave for the next long walk. Qantas tells me I have 205 days remaining, so the countdown has seriously started. 

There have been a few changes over the past weeks and one of these is the Irish walk. Due to accomodation dramas on the National Famine Way I have changed the Irish walk to St Declan's Way. I looked at this walk a few times when I was trying to decide where to walk. It is only 115klms, less than The Famine Walk but this shorter walking time gives me an extra day in Dublin. I can now shop for the Celtic ring that will be a special present from my husband. After 50 years of marriage this ring will be very special. 

St Declan's Way starts at The Rock of Cashel and finishes in Ardmore on the coast. abt 5 - 6 days walking and one of these nights will be spent at the Mt Melloray Monastery. I believe this Monastery is a wonder to see.

I have also added 5 extra days at the end after I finish the Thames River Walk so heading to walk these days on The Coastal Path, a path that can be completed walking around the whole English coast.

I will bus/train from Woolwich area in London where I finish, to the village of Deal close to Dover and walk to Hastings. The plan is to continue this walk again at Hastings in 2027/2028.  If my good health stays with me, I will finish this English Coast Walk and also Hadrien's Wall on the next couple of long walks.

I have not decided if this will be the last walk for Cancer Queensland, future walks may just be for ME. I hope to raise the promised funds and will make the decision before the next walk.

I will go shopping this week for another new pair of boots, returned the Keens boots for the 3rd time so this time I will purchase a different brand.  I am gradually getting the gear together but feel I may need to rethink the size of my backpack and return to a 35lt size. I will be away for 7 weeks, and I know I can pack very minimal but feel that a 28lt may not be big enough. I have always used a 35lt pack but decided to change. Perhaps not a smart idea. Most of the accomodation has been booked, just a few nights on the Irish walk, some buses and trains and one Scottish plane fare. Then I am ready.

After the walk is sorted, I will then work on the next walking book ready for the publisher. I have the title sorted and proofreading completed, just need the covers completed. It will definitely be out before I go away in March.

At this stage the Title will be - On the Trail of the Swiss Guards, A Journey from Switzerland to the Vatican.
Any comments are considered.......

The next few months before Christmas will be full of family and domestic travel but sill contactable.  

Coffee morning

Thursday 18th Apr
Yesterday 16 friends came together for a cup of coffee and cake, to help me raise funds for Cancer, a cause very important to me.  We raised $250 with the help of Cafe Mandala. 
Thankyou for the support.

Coffee and Cake for Cancer

Tuesday 16th Apr
Tomorrow I will host the first of my Coffee for Cancer days for 2024. I have decided on a small gathering of good friends who have supported me over the last few years and always been there for me when I needed them. 

I would like to thank in advance Mandala Cafe for allowing me to hold this gathering of friends in the cafe.

As of tonight, the Cancer donation site has reached $1,943 so still a way to go but I always seem to get there in the end. 

I will keep this site updated over the remainder of the year and thank you for everyone's support. As always, this walk will be for the special boys in my family who have battled Cancer.  

My Walk is now Real

Friday 12th Apr
I have just returned from walking 136klms along the Rail Trails of Victoria. When I returned, I knew that I needed to get serious about the walk next year, so I have booked a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Perth to London and then a BA flight to Dublin. This will be my 7th visit to this beautiful and friendly city.

I will arrive in Dublin the day before St Patrick's Day so can now cross this off my to- do list. The next day I will head to Strokestown to commence a 9 day walk, 165klms, to the Famine Memorial in Dublin. I have decided not to walk the second planned Irish walk but fly to Scotland.

I will then start to walk the John Muir Way, 215klms over 12 days from Helensburgh to Dunbar. This walk has been organised twice before, but Covid cancelled it both times.

I have decided not to walk Hadrian's Wall this visit but to travel south to commence the Thames River Walk Source to Sea.  This 3 week or 292klms walk will commence in Gloucestershire and finish at the Tower Bridge in London. 

I am still to book my return fare in a few weeks when the Qantas FF flights come online but I have already booked some beds in the bigger cities, I am finding some places are already booked out. 

Over the next few months, I hope to start some serious walking in southern Queensland, walking during the cooler months.

This week I am hosting a Coffee and Cake Cancer morning with a handful of friends who have supported me over many years. 

The promised amount of $5000 is slowly moving along with several donations in the last few days. A big thankyou to everyone who has donated to the page.  

Rail Trails

Wednesday 6th Mar
I have been travelling for past 4 days and managed some walking. Tomorrow I hope to walk about 20klms and get a bus back to Yea. My next few travel days with Vline will depend on train/bus driver strikes. I can only wait and see what eventuates.
This section of the trail is known for its snakes so I hope they are all asleep when I pass. Lots of noise with the walking sticks and hopefully lots of bike riders. 
This small walk is a training walk for 2025, a big walk/walks. 
This part of the country has just suffered with a big flood so accomodation is struggling with some undergoing renovations. The countryside is very dry, trees are starting to change colour and tomorrow will be hot. I will start walking at 6.30am, hopefully the day will be with me.

The time to walk

Monday 21st Aug
For a few months I have been trying to decide on dates for a long walk and where I should walk. Ireland always comes to mind so have decided two walks in Ireland and then across to Scotland and England to finish. All walks are not long but about 800klms in total.

Next year I plan to walk in NSW to start some serious training and also some serious fundraising. My fundraising always needs the help of family and friends and often the help of complete strangers.  Strangers that eventually become friends and my supporters. Again, this walk will be solo.

Last weekend with the help of Muddy's Cafe in Cairns I held a Cancer weekend at the cafe. A big thank you for the support of the staff and the people of Cairns.

Keep walking.

Thank you to my Supporters

$1.02k

Anonymous

$503

Mandala Cafe

$325

Mandala Cafe

$273.25

Julie Lynch

You've reached your fundraising goal!🩷 Just enjoy your final walk for cancer, dear Jennifer. Love and blessings, Julie

$250

Mandala Cafe

$242.65

Meg Jesberg

❤️

$190

Muddy's Cafe Customer Donations

$122

Mareeba Leagues Club

$121

Mareeba Leagues Club Donations

$105.50

Krishna Buhler

$105.50

Barbara Dangaard

$100

Warren Entsch

$63

Mayhems At Machans Cafe

$60

Bob Katter Mp

$54.12

Helen Holland

Great job, again Jennifer.

$54.12

Barbara Richardson

Sending you very best wishes Jennifer for your Celtic walks and amazing Cancer fund raising. Looking forward to following your progress. Best of luck from Barb, Port Lincoln, South Australia. (Herbie on Heart Foundation Walking)

$54.12

Krishna Buhler

Great trip

$54.12

Krishna Buhler

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

$54.12

Leigh Ann Love

You are amazing Jennifer. Wishing you well.

$52.75

Helen

Jennifer, you are amazing the way you constantly raise money for cancer.

$52.75

Donna Graham

Exceptional effort for a great cause- thanks Jennifer

$52.75

Sandy Hocking

Will be following your walk Jennifer. All the best with it. Regards Sandy

$50

Julie Jackson

$50

Richard Sabella

$50

Judy Taylor

$50

Kathryn Mannion

$39

Cwa Kuranda Ladies

$26.38

Donna And Paul Ryan

Here's to another great walk. Good luck!

$26.38

Donna And Paul Ryan

A beautiful part of Australia to walk in. Can be hot at this time of year. Go safely.

$26.38

Gerry Rallos

Thank you Jennifer for all you contribute to Cancer Queensland.

$25

Belinda Moore

Best wishes on your next adventure!

$22.58

Brenda Trezise

$21.10

Krishna Buhler

Great efforts

$20

Bob Jones

$20

Pete And Christianne

$20

Rhonda Nolan

$20

Kim Woodland

$10.55

Jane Whytlaw

$10.55

Jennifer Rooks

$10

Kuranda Donation

$10

Carol Jeanes

$10

Annonymous

$10

Cas Mcintyre

$10

Angela Toppin