Danielle DiRenzo celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her 2014 breast cancer diagnosis and successful treatment by taking on a feat of stamina and endurance. The Cherry Hill resident decided to walk the French route of the Camino de Santiago—a 500-mile pilgrimage that began in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, and culminated at the majestic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Danielle remained focused on her recovery after completing cancer treatment at the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program in South Jersey, which included surgery, multiple rounds of radiation therapy, and participation in a clinical trial.

“For the last 10 years, I’ve met regularly with my Virtua breast surgeon, Dr. James Crawford, long after my treatments were complete,” Danielle said. “It was very comforting to have that kind of follow-up from my physician. This year, he said that I no longer need follow-up cancer care appointments, and so I decided to celebrate by finally walking the Camino.”

Danielle, 57, had recently retired from teaching in the Cherry Hill School District. A frequent traveler to Spain, she had often thought about walking the Camino since she first learned about it almost 30 years ago. 

“Danielle’s determination and positive outlook helped her during her cancer journey, so it’s no surprise that she took on this challenge to honor her own recovery and as well as honoring others who have dealt with the difficulty of breast cancer. She is an inspiration to me and many others,” said James Crawford, MD, breast surgeon at Virtua Health, part of the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program.

Tracy’s Backpack: Carrying On a Legacy
While training for the walk, Danielle joined a few Facebook groups to learn as much as she could about the Camino. Through one of the groups, Danielle heard about “Tracy’s Backpack.”

The backpack belonged to a woman from Canada, Tracy Lloyd, who, following her own breast cancer journey, planned to walk the Camino in 2017. However, just before her trip, Tracy’s breast cancer returned. She was determined to walk the Camino despite the news, but her health deteriorated throughout the trip. She returned home for more treatment with the goal of returning to the Camino when she recovered.

Tracy never finished her Camino. She tragically died of the disease shortly after her 50th birthday.

Several years later, Tracy’s family generously decided to donate her backpack to a pilgrim in need. They posted Tracy’s story on social media and offered to send the backpack to anyone who could use it.

The family first mailed Tracy’s backpack and shell (a type of jacket) to a hiker named Alice, asking that she leave a photo of Tracy at the Cruz de Ferro—an iconic site along the Camino.

After Alice completed her journey and carried out the family’s wishes, she sent the backpack to a hiker in Australia, who used it and then sent it to another hiker. Each temporary custodian posted on social media to keep the growing community informed of their progress.

Danielle was the fourth woman to carry Tracy’s backpack on the Camino. She has since sent it to the next pilgrim. About 400,000 people walk this route each year.

“Honestly, carrying Tracy’s backpack made me keep going on the Camino, which is a grueling walk for many of us,” explained Danielle. “While I experienced some physical difficulties on the walk, I was so grateful to be honoring all the people who didn’t get to experience the journey.”

Danielle’s Journey: Overcoming Obstacles
Danielle spent months training for the Camino. She joined several walking groups and walked additional miles on her own.

Danielle began her trek on April 25, 2024. Along the way, she experienced foot pain, knee pain, and heart palpitations, checking in with medical professionals as needed. Unfortunately, just a few days away from her destination, she developed plantar fasciitis and had to finish her expedition by bus, arriving on June 4. Still, Danielle estimates that she walked an incredible 280 miles during her six-week sojourn.

“Although I experienced some real difficulties during the walk, I am considering returning to the Camino to finish my journey. I would like to walk the last section that I had to skip due to my injury,” Danielle said. “I am so appreciative of my health; I don’t feel the need to push on if I have injuries or am in pain. This experience and overcoming cancer have taught me that I need to listen to my body and take good care of it.”

Danielle sums up her cancer and Camino de Santiago experience with a quote from author and speaker Rachel Marie Martin, “Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought it would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living.”