Croudace Bay's Nikki Torrance lost her ability to walk after having a life-changing stroke.
So when she leaves for Spain on Wednesday to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, it will mark a major milestone in her recovery.
The ancient route is often walked by people across the world seeking journeys of transformation and realisation.
"It will give me time to reflect on how far I've come and how hard I've worked," said Nikki, 54.
"I've worked on my rehabilitation every day. I didn't have a choice. It was either do that or slowly die. That wasn't an option."
Nikki is acutely aware of how close she came to death.
She had a massive haemorrhagic stroke in 2024, while having cryotherapy for a migraine.
"It was a bleed not a clot. It was in my basal ganglia, which is connected to my emotions. The emotional side of things is really hard for me now," she said.
Research suggests whole-body cryotherapy could cause a stroke in susceptible people.
"I don't blame that. I was doing cryotherapy because I had a bad migraine the night before," Nikki said.
"I probably would have had the stroke anyway. Nobody knows."
Nikki will start the pilgrimage on Friday with her physiotherapist Kylie Starr.
"She told me she was going to walk the Camino and I jokingly said, 'well, you'll need your physio to come with you'," Kylie said.
"Somehow, that joke became a reality. The next thing I knew, I had a seat next to her on the plane."
Kylie said it felt "incredibly special to be able to support her on this journey".
"The progress she has made over the past 12 months has been enormous," she said.
"There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way, as there are with stroke recovery.
"What stands out most is her determination. She keeps showing up, pushing herself and finding ways to move forward, even when things are difficult."
The pair will walk 115km from Sarria to Santiago over five days along the Camino trail.
To earn an official and revered Camino certificate, pilgrims must walk at least the final 100km.
Kylie said walking the Camino was "a huge challenge for anyone, let alone someone recovering from a stroke".
"Nikki is incredibly competitive, has a zest for life and has chosen to focus on what she can do, rather than what she can't," she said.
"I think the Camino is about so much more than walking. For her, it represents resilience, independence and the opportunity to show others what is possible after a stroke."
Nikki said recovering from the stroke had been "very hard", but she had strong support from her husband and three adult children.
She has a frustrating post-stroke condition that prevents her from expressing the emotions she feels. She also has trouble with balance and "getting my words out".
"But I've just learnt to ride a bicycle again with my occupational therapist. That's one challenge I'm very proud of," she said.
Nikki and Kylie have raised about $25,000 for the Stroke Foundation as part of the trek.
"We've had trivia and comedy nights and a sausage sizzle," Nikki said.
"The community support has been amazing."
For her efforts, Nikki is a finalist for fundraiser of the year at the Stroke Foundation Awards in Melbourne in October.
