Walking for a cause is not a new phenomenon. Since the Middle Ages, believers have walked the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain asking for forgiveness. All the world’s religions have this concept of a sacred journey where the pilgrim asks for special favours or seeks personal fulfillment. Recently, the road to Santiago, affectionately known as ’El Camino’ or St. James’ Way, has enjoyed a renewed popularity and many modern day pilgrims are discovering the joys of following its yellow arrows to Santiago de Compostela.

My name is Daryl Bambic and I will be walking the 750 kilometers of the ‘camino’ to raise funds for the innocent children who suffer from sexual and physical abuse. These children suffer in silence and generally don’t report their abuse. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that among adult Canadians, 53% of women and 31% of men were sexually or physically abused as children. The damage done to them, and to those who love them, is horrific. Some brave ones report the abuse but the majority remains frightened and silent. Every child needs help. It is critically important that these victims begin the healing process as children, before they grow to adulthood. My goal is to raise funds so that children will have the opportunity to receive counseling and therapy. Every dollar raised for this pilgrimage will be spent on healing these children. What is more precious to us than our children? Who is more deserving of justice than the young who are vulnerable and who look to us for protection? They deserve to be cherished and together we can contribute to their healing.

Father Pomkoski and the St. Brendan’s faith community on Rosemount Boulevard in Montreal (Quebec) are partners with me in this fundraiser. I will walk alone but will have the support of many who want to help heal these children. The names of those who have donated will be left at the Iron Cross and I will offer a special prayer for them. The tradition of the Iron Cross is to offer a prayer and leave a stone from the country of origin at its base. For many pilgrims, encountering this cross is as meaningful as their final destination to the shrine of St. James itself in Santiago de Compostela.
If this cause strikes a sensitive chord in you, I invite you to be my spiritual partner in the pilgrimage this summer to Santiago de Compostela. All donations, great and small, will be appreciated. Checks should be made out to St. Brendan’s with “Walking for Healing” clearly indicated.
In the name of the victims and survivors, I thank you for your support.