In July, one of our incredible supporters, Craig Nielsen, completed the journey of a lifetime. He walked about 2,000 kilometres from Western Australia across the Nullarbor, raising awareness and much-need funds for people in Gaza.
In celebration of his incredible journey and unwavering commitment to this cause, we caught up with Craig and are honoured to share his insights about his epic walk.
Enjoy Craig’s take on the experience, in his words…
On the feeling of finally finishing the journey and arriving at Parliament House in Adelaide….
Crossing the finish line was not what I thought it would be. I thought that I would fall to pieces when I finally got on the steps of Parliament House. But when I got there, I realised that I had to keep myself together. I needed to remember that these rallies are for the Palestinian people. To show solidarity with them and to come together to think about them in their suffering and grief. I felt a bit strange getting so much attention suddenly when I had spent so many hours on the road completely alone. I also realised that a number of my students from school were in the crowd, and I needed to be a good example to them.
On having to push through the tough moments…
I was so lucky to have the support team that I had. The last two nights before I finished, I spent in motels sleeping between actual sheets! It finally dawned on me that the walk was coming to an end. It was the first night that I hadn’t felt cold and uncomfortable.
So many times, I had felt that I just couldn’t go on, even from the very start! Even from the very first 500m! I remember being about 50km east of Ceduna just sitting on the side of the road with my face in my hands, crying my eyes out. I was so sick of the whole thing! From about day 30 I felt that I had had enough! I was sick of the blisters, the aching feet, the toes being squashed in my shoes, being covered in sweat right down to my underwear even when it was cold and windy. And there was still 34 days to go. I wasn’t even halfway.
And pushing through even further…
I was sick of the flies, the trucks blowing me all over the place as they went past, the heat, getting up at 5:30am in the morning when it was freezing cold and having to go out and walk for hours on end. My mind felt like it was just mush! I ran out of pleasant things to think about to make the hours go by. Even the music couldn’t keep my brain amused anymore. I couldn’t manage to have rest periods of longer than ten minutes because my feet and legs would already to start seizing up.
My life seemed to be about three-square metres of gravel right in front of me. Seven days a week. I couldn’t appreciate the beautiful countryside around me. I was always in a “zone”. I couldn’t stand the idea of anyone walking with me. I didn’t even like turning around to look behind me. Anything that took me out of the zone, I despised. Somehow, I just couldn’t get my brain to comfort myself with the idea that it would come to an end one day. It just seemed to go on forever.
On what kept him going…
Apart from the amazing job my support crew did in putting up with me, the most up-lifting thing that happened was the amazing response we got from passers-by. About 15 people came up to us without any prompting to give us money for the charity. Others gave us their well wishes and thanked us for caring. People stopped their cars in the middle of the highway to get out of their vehicles, run down the road and give me money. People donated food, washed our clothes in their own washing machines and even fixed mechanical issues we had free of charge! Caravan Park attendants gave us campsites for free!
Even above this was the messages of encouragement I got from people at the rallies at Parliament House and the messages I got from the people at Act for Peace. I had been told/warned that a walk like this could take me to a very “dark” place in my mind. By the time I arrived in Port Augusta, I had definitely visited that dark place. It was just then that I got the message from Act for Peace. It gave me just enough breathing space to finally get home.
On keeping the people of Gaza at the forefront of his mind…
But with every step, every moment, I always came back to the horrors of the genocide in Gaza. I thought so much of how people in Gaza were going through something that seems to have no end. The fact is that my walk ended. Their nightmare still hasn’t. As a Christian, as a human being, the killing of tens of thousands of children, the terrible grief of their mothers and fathers and the terrible vulnerability of the thousands of pregnant mothers in Gaza would always force me on.
The cause of the Palestinian people, the cause of people who are constantly demonised and forgotten has moved me ever since I came to know the love of God in Jesus when I was 35 years old. I want to be their voice and their advocate. I don’t just want to curse the darkness, I want to light a candle as well.
On the politics of war….
I wanted to end at Parliament House as a definite political statement. I want to say to the political leadership of this country that they are complicit with this genocide and that I will have no part in their complicity. I will not go down in history as being someone who just sat by and did nothing. I will not be on the wrong side of history. Western governments have made no meaningful efforts to stop the Israeli state in its illegal occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.
I want people to see that everyone can, and must, stand up and do anything they can. They need to show that they will not be complicit with genocide and apartheid. I wanted people to see that there are people who are willing to sacrifice and persevere even unto the end of their days to stand up for kindness, peace, justice and compassion.
On the recovery process…
I’m still hurting every day. I’ve injured myself far more than I originally thought but I have not once ounce of regret. When I get up to go to the bathroom I feel like an old man. When I was getting a massage at the physio the other day, I just starting quietly crying to myself. I’m not sure why. I think that I was just letting it all out slowly. I’ll rest up, get the medical help I need and look for the next challenge. I won’t stop. I want people to see that there are people who will not give up. People who realise that everyone matters. I’ll tell everyone who wants to listen.
We are so grateful to have amazing supporters like Craig join us in caring for humankind together. If you’re inspired to act for peace in the world, why don’t you consider making your next trip or occasion a fundraiser like Craig?
