Walking the Via Francigena
Left: Eliza Bartlett visiting the JDRF office in London after walking 100 days on the trail
Linden Park local Eliza Bartlett is 800 km from completing her solo 4000 km walking challenge on a trail in Europe to raise awareness and funds for Type 1 diabetes research. The 27 year old St Peter’s Girls’ School Old Scholar, who was nine years old when she was diagnosed with the condition, is taking the trek with only a pair of sturdy boots, walking sticks, and a backpack.Eliza’s parents, Jane and David (also of Linden Park), have just returned from a trip to check-in with their daughter. “We have just had a short trip to France to visit Eliza,” says Jane. “It was definitely inspirational, even as her parents. She has so much determination and resilience, never complains or beaten by the challenges.”
Eliza’s 4000 km walk started on 1 April in Brindisi, Italy, and will end in Aberdeen, Scotland at the end of September, encompassing the Via Francigena route - an ancient route from Canterbury to Rome that crosses the Swiss Alps and, in medieval times, pilgrims travelled to see the Holy See and the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul.
The Sturt Cricket Club women’s captain that led her team to a 2019 SACA premiership win, Eliza is currently in Watford with 65 km to travel to Birmingham where she will stop to see the 1st Ashes test before heading to Scotland.
Along the way Eliza must maintain her condition on a daily basis with regular blood sugar testing and insulin management. There is very little room for much in her backpack with half of it devoted to medical supplies to manage her Type 1 diabetes. More information on the trek and how Eliza is managing can be found on her webpage https://www.elizabartlettjdrfwalk.com/about or on Facebook @ElizaBartlettJDRFWalk.
3200 km along, Jane said Eliza is determined to complete this trek. “I do however still think she is a little crazy but it is something she has been determined to do since completing the Adelaide to Melbourne walk 6 years ago,” says Jane.
“Her final destination is Royal Aberdeen Golf Club because of her passion for golf and to ensure she completes more than 4000 km.”