Walking for a good cause
22-year-old Irish student Emma Hussey walks over 100km from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje, raising over €4,200 to feed vulnerable children.
On 22 December 2024, Emma Hussey, a 22-year-old student from Kerry walked 100km from the historic city of Dubrovnik in Croatia to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina to raise money for Mary’s Meals.
In this interview, I catch up with Emma to ask her more about the trip and how she was able to raise over €4,300 to feed children from vulnerable communities in their place of education.
Mary’s Meals: Hello Emma. First of all, why did you decide to walk such long way just before Christmas last year?
Emma Hussey: That’s a very good question! I’m really passionate about travel, and for the past three summers, I’ve worked on a small island off the coast of Dubrovnik in Croatia. I’d already planned to spend Christmas in Medjugorje and thought it was a wonderful opportunity to walk all the way there from Dubrovnik.
I’ve made a number of pilgrimages to Medjugorje, and on my last one I discovered the incredible work Mary’s Meals does to provide a nutritious meal to vulnerable children every school day in their place of education. The idea came after watching Child 31 – the Story of Mary’s Meals and receiving advice from my mum to “exert myself” for a good cause!
I was simply so inspired by the incredible work they do, so I decided to take on the challenge to raise funds for the children the charity serves. I hope to inspire others to donate so they can feed even more children.
Could you talk a little more about some of the details of the walk?
Well, the goal was to walk 100km in three days, starting on 22 December and arriving in Medjugorje on Christmas Eve. But it actually took two and a half days due to the fact that I arrived in Dubrovnik on the morning of the 22nd and only began walking around 1pm. So, I had to get a move on!
The initial plan was to walk 33km each day – from Dubrovnik to Slano, Slano to the outskirts of Metković, and then finally the outskirts of Metković to Medjugorje. But the weather conditions and the dark evenings made this difficult.
On day two, the rain really started to come down heavily, so I had to stop when I was just over the halfway mark (50km) at around 4pm. To make back the distance I should have walked, I had to start walking again when the rain had cleared at 7pm and also again at 5.30am the following morning. But this still meant I had to walk 40km on the last day, which is more than I’d ever walked in a single day! But with the wind behind me, I arrived in Medjugorje at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
How did you feel when you arrived at Medjugorje?
First of all, I felt a great sense of relief that I had arrived, as there were so many people that had generously sponsored me by donating to my GoFundMe page. And those donations amounted to more than €4,200 for the vulnerable children that Mary’s Meals feeds, which is absolutely incredible!
I was really blown away by the kindness of all those who made a donation. I should mention the Casey family, who donated a large sum of money in memory of their late wife and mother.
For me, personally and physically, I was really happy that I achieved the goal I’d set for myself.
Are you planning on doing any more fundraising activities for Mary’s Meals?
I would love to! If the opportunity arises to raise more funds for this fantastic organisation, I am all in. I hope also to get more involved with the organisation as Mary's Meals Youth Ambassador – a global movement of young people across more than 20 countries where Mary’s Meals has a presence.
It costs just £19.15, €22, $25.20 USD or $31.70 CAD to provide a child with school meals for an entire school year. There are many ways you can help us to reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals. There may even be a Mary's Meals office or volunteer group in your area. Learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference.
Donal O'Doherty is a Supporter Engagement Officer for Mary’s Meals Ireland.