Inspiring others one step at a time

Kathy Wright aims to not only raise money for Chameleon Housing when she takes on the Camino de Santiago walk, she hopes her adventure will inspire young people supported by the organisation to take steps forward in their own life journeys.

Kathy and her brother Paul will start the 784km walk on April 25 from St Jean Pied and aim to reach Santiago de Compostela on June 1. They expect it to take 38 days, including four rest days.

The pair may add a couple of days to the end of their walk, extending it to Finisterre on the coast, depending on how they are feeling.

Kathy, a former youth worker, is raising money for Chameleon Housing, which supports young people at risk of homelessness.

She says she wants to do something to help ease the homelessness problem and respects the work Chameleon Housing does.

“I like their focus on helping young people really value themselves because I’ve had to come to value myself. I think that is so crucial in finding their own path,” Kathy says.

Young people living at Chameleon House will be following Kathy’s journey every step of the way, receiving updates from the intrepid trekker and using a map to monitor her progress.

“They might find it’s something they want to do. It doesn’t have to be the Camino, it doesn’t have to be as big as that. It’s whatever is most appropriate for each person … just some little step to take,” Kathy says.

“I want young people know they are worthwhile and they can take a step, it doesn’t matter what it is. It’s just what’s most appropriate for them, not anybody else, what is meaningful for them.”

Chameleon Housing Manager Nicki Kemp says the young people will be inspired by the scale of what Kathy, 69, is attempting.

“I think (believing) that anything’s possible. Taking one step at a time and being able to see that Kath is able to do that and accomplish remarkable things. They’ll be able to translate that into their own lives,” Nicki says.

“The young ladies we have here at the moment … they’re very involved in this and that Kath is doing this and raising funds for them. Kath’s a remarkable woman.”

The Redcliffe resident has been training locally in the lead-up to her departure, even using the winds of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred to prepare for exposed sections of the trail.

She will also draw on her experience with yoga, breath work and Nia Australia, a movement class which encourages participants to listen to their bodies.

“It’s a whole body thing – body, mind, spirit – that will help me a lot on this too. It’s listening to our bodies and moving the way our bodies want to move. That’s key for this,” Kathy explains.

“I’m trying not to expect too much, actually. I want to be open to what it’s going to be, not have it pre-planned in a lot of ways.

“That openness is part of what I’m looking at in the next 10 years in my life. I need to be open to whatever comes and be compassionate with myself … have compassionate curiosity, to what I’m still able to do, what I might have to change along the way. This body has a used-by date and I’m OK with that.

“I’m looking forward (to the trek) with that sort of openness to whatever comes and knowing I’ll be able to work with it or be with it.”

At the highest point, which is about 1500m, walkers can place a symbolic token or stone.

Kathy has a stone she will leave which she has ‘wrapped’ in twine to attach a key.

“A key … it unlocks and it locks … unlocking things we might need to unlock and let go of, and to open up to something new,” she explains.

“I’ll put it there for everybody else too, like here at Chameleon House, and for all the people who have donated so far to the cause … for whatever they need in this moment.

“I’d just like to thank everybody who’s contributed to the cause so far. It’s brilliant. I thank them from my heart. It’s very humbling, really.”

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