”Passionate biologist, adventure guide, athlete, artist and storyteller, my life is a subtle blend of nature, ecology, outdoor sports, travel and human interaction. It has always been grounded in movement. And yet… 3 years ago, everything changed. Intense back and pelvic pain grounded me. I was diagnosed with Axial Spondyloarthritis (SpA), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that attacks the spine and pelvic joints, causing acute daily pain that makes even the simplest movements difficult, and can lead to disability. I never thought walking or running would ever be a challenge. The pain is now present with every movement. My emotional wellbeing has plummeted, and my difficulties in day-to-day life have taken their toll on the people around me. I feel lost. But despite it all, I hang in there. Movement, though it may be painful, is the key to a possible remission, combined with the right biotherapy.

If I can’t walk for long, I can ride my bike. To come to terms with illness, I felt the need for a pilgrimage of reconnection and awareness.

Because the bravest people are often the ones who fight battles we don’t even know we’re fighting. So, I embarked on a mission off the beaten track, in search of my new potential and to show that it’s still possible to achieve great things. To understand how I can adapt to this new burden and make it lighter. ”