Walking the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago — the "Way of St. James"

Since the Middle Ages, humble pilgrims have trod hundreds of miles across the north of Spain to pay homage to the remains of St. James in his namesake city, Santiago de Compostela. 

 The Camino de Santiago is more than just a popular route; it’s a globally cherished treasure. Since 1993, Camino has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its various paths, each offering a distinct charm, the Camino attracts seekers, adventurers, and pilgrims from all corners.

The Camino de Santiago is not merely a path but a transformative adventure, a journey through history, a deeply personal and spiritual journey. My husband Jimmy Stewart turned 69 this year and is walking The Camino de Santiago. He began his walk April 27th, 2024 to honor his father, Bill Stewart. He started in France and crossed over the Pyrenees into Spain which is a 4000-mile elevation. He will be walking a total of 500 miles. I will be joining him May 25th, for the last 70 miles of the Camino Pilgrimage ending in Santiago, Spain.

We are dedicating this journey in remembrance of Bill Stewart, Jim's Father and Louis Norton my brother. We want to raise awareness about Suicide and support our local organization the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County.  

Bill was a kind and loving husband and father and was married to Luverne and they had five children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He worked for the Terminal Railroad for over 44 years and was a World War II Veteran that served in the Navy. He was 69 when he died by suicide. He embraced a life of recovery for over 29 years in which he helped sponsor and help many men on the journey of sobriety.

Louie was the 17th child of Mahlon & Marie Norton. He was 42 when he died by suicide after struggling many years with alcohol and drugs. He was a loving father to his daughter. He was an entrepreneur and a very talented carpenter by trade. He was a sensitive man, an amazing cook and he loved to dance. His feet and body never stopped moving and he would light up a room with his laughter. He was fascinated by Doodle Bugs as a kid, so we gave him that nickname. Whenever I see a Doodle Bug I get a big smile on my face!

Jim and I are walking the Camino de Santiago to honor both of these loving men and to raise funds for  families that have also experienced the heartache of losing someone they love to suicide.

Colorado consistently ranks in the top ten states for annual deaths by suicide, in Larimer County a suicide occurs every 4-5 days statistically, it is the leading cause of youth deaths, and more people die by suicide than homicide.

Mental health and suicide are often stigmatized and a lack of education about these topics can leave those who have been affected by it personally or by someone they love feeling isolated, unsure of how to support someone in need, and unaware of the resources in the community available to them.

We would like to ask if you can help us support this life-saving and caring organization by donating to the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County.

 In gratitude,

Melissa & Jimmy Stewart