Camino de Santiago after reaching her goal weight. Slimming World consultant Barbara Byrne has raised almost €2,000 for the Marie Keating Foundation as part of the challenge. On 4 September she will walk 115km over five days along the ancient route.

Every year thousands of pilgrims from around the world enjoy walking the camino for different reasons.

“Before I lost the weight, I wouldn’t have physically been able to walk it and it is something that I have always wanted to do,” she said. “I lost three stone and two pounds five years ago and have maintained it since, but this year I decided I wanted to go that extra half a stone.”

The Marie Keating Foundation, which provides free cancer services and information for men and women, is the partner charity of Slimming World. Barbara managed to raise the €2,000 in recent weeks through a bag pack in Dunnes stores in Newbridge and bucket collections at her classes.

In preparation for the camino, she walked the Wild Atlantic Way with a friend on Friday.

“I am always setting challenges for myself and that is what motivates me,” she said.

She decided to fulfil the dream of walking the Camino after joining up with a group through Facebook. “I have met so many new people through this group. This is like another journey for me. Everyone asks me if I mind going on my own and say I’m not going to be on my own: I will be with a group doing the same thing as myself.”

Barbara holds Slimming World classes in Newbridge in the Open Arms Church on Mondays and in Springfield Hotel in Leixlip on Wednesdays.