Ellie Smith: A journey filled with gratitude
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This September, four friends from B.C. will hike the Camino de Santiago, raising awareness about HD along the way. We caught up with them as they prepared for their epic journey.
Walking 20-plus kilometres a day for more than a month gives a person plenty of time to think. For Ellie Smith, family will be top of mind as she winds her way along the Camino de Santiago — an 800-kilometre traditional pilgrim’s route through France and Spain.
Over the years, Ellie has lost several siblings and niece to HD, while another sister and one niece grapple with the fatal disease today. Coming from an active, outdoorsy family, Ellie can’t help thinking how they would have loved to join her on her upcoming adventure. “It would have been amazing,” she says.
However, she won’t be alone. She and her husband will be joined by a group of friends who decided to use the trip as an opportunity to raise awareness about Huntington disease. Throughout the journey, they’ll be wearing “I love someone with HD” t-shirts and buffs branded the “Team HD” logo, as well as handing out information cards to anyone that might be interested.
“It was all their idea, and I’m thinking, oh man, that is just so awesome,” says Ellie. “The people we’re walking with are all really amazing.”
Indeed, Ellie suspects she’ll spend a lot of her time on the Camino simply feeling grateful — grateful for her health, for her friends and family and for the incredible memories she’ll undoubtedly bring home to the Okanagan Valley. “There’s so many things to be thankful for,” she says. “I’m a lucky girl.”