Former teacher’s trek along El Camino Way in memory of nun

Former teacher’s trek along El Camino Way in memory of nun

A RETIRED Downpatrick schoolteacher has trekked 500 miles for charity in memory of a religious nun killed in a South American earthquake last year.

Carol Toner raised €10,000 through her six-week pilgrimage along the Spanish El Camino Way to help rebuild a school in Playa Pietra in Ecuador where Sister Clare Crockett lost her life in a massive earthquake last year.

Sr Clare, who was originally from Northern Ireland, had been teaching the guitar to children when the earthquake struck. her body was recovered from the rubble of the school building with two other members of the Home of the Mother religious order.

Inspired by the story of Sister Clare’s tragic death, Carol decided to undertake the sponsored pilgrimage, visiting the Home of the Mother convent in Zurita during her walk to present funds raised towards the reconstruction of their school.

It was during a personal visit to the area as a young woman that Sr Clare was drawn to the religious life.

“I think the fact that Sr Clare was a teacher and I was a teacher helped me identify with her,” said Carol.

“She was a great role model, and her family was also very supportive of me doing the trek in memory of her.”

Supported by children from St Macartan’s Primary School in Loughinisland and Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School in Downpatrick, she was also supported by a group of friends who joined her for the last section of the trek into Santiago.

Despite the occasional loneliness of the overall expedition, Carol said she enjoyed the camaraderie of other pilgrims, each of whom had their own personal reason for doing the world famous trek.

“I did have a lot of time on my own, time to reflect, time to enjoy the scenery and time to form lifelong relationships with people from all over the world.

“It was a difficult walk at times over the Pyrenees but the views were spectacular and it was amazing to have the opportunity to walk with people and meet people from all over the world and form friendships,” she said.

“They were there for all sorts of reasons, some had faced tragedy, others were at a crossroads in their lives and faced big decisions, some were there for the physical challenge, but everybody was doing their own Camino.

“The trek has taken up so much of my time over the past year, with training and fundraising, but it has been worth it and it is great that we will help school children in Ecuador. I am so grateful to everyone who offered their support.”