West Hartford Teacher's Pilgrimage Honors Son's Cancer Battle

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A local resident and middle school teacher is going on a life-altering pilgrimage in Europe this week to raise money and awareness for a disease that nearly cost him his son.

Sedgwick Middle School French and Spanish teacher Jameth Mikan is walking the so-called "Camino de Santiago" from France to Spain, starting on Thursday, July 7.

According to an online description of his journey, Mikan is walking the pilgrimage trail daily until July 22 in honor of his young son Eliot.

In 2019, Eliot was diagnosed with "high risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer of the central nervous system," writes Mikan.

His son was 3 when diagnosed and the subsequent treatment options took place simultaneously with the anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, Eliot is doing better and has recovered enough so he can journey to Spain to meet with family there, his father wrote.

Though his son is doing better, Mikan writes others have not survived this aggressive form of cancer, which is why he's looking to raise money for the cause.

"We have met many others who have lost their children to this disease and I can't help but feel I have to do more," wrote Mikan.

Mikan has already started an online blog where supporters can follow his progress and read up and see photos of the journey.

Currently, Mikan writes about the cause and also shows supporters where he is going and the nature of the trip.

"I hope that this walk will inspire others reading this to do the same. It takes motivation, suffering and getting outside of one’s bubble but the rewards and sense of accomplishment are worth it," writes Mikan on his blog.

"On this journey I am reflecting on healing. So much healing is needed all across the spectrum for so many people. Perhaps this will help."

To donate to help fight pediatric, high-risk neuroblastoma, visit this link.

To look at Mikan's blog on his journey, visit this link.

For more information on the called "Camino de Santiago," visit this link.