August 11, 2025
Pictured: Wearing her Charlotte Hungerford Hospital jacket, Corporator and 1916 Society Member Cynthia Oneglia celebrates her completion of the Way of St. James in Santiago, Spain in May 2025. Oneglia raised $10,600 in support of Food4Health during her 500-mile journey.
There was a short pause during her 500-mile walk from St. Jean Pied De Port, France, to Santiago, Spain where Cynthia Oneglia found needed inspiration from a Spanish physician treating her for knee soreness on the Way of St. James.
“The physician was very kind to me and said I know you will get to Santiago, because my name is Santiago,” shared Cynthia, who later returned home to northwest Connecticut after completing the Camino de Santiago with her daughter and son-in-law in May 2025.
The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago, Spain.
“A fellow pilgrim told me it will test you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially,” shares Cynthia. “To walk five hundred miles in forty days is to examine your conscience, hold a mirror to your heart, and hold space for your soul.
“When you’re on the Camino, there are others on their own personal journeys and you’re meeting people from all over the world,” she continues. “It’s a place where you feel very safe, because of the respect among other participants. Everyone you encounter is carrying something—whether mental or physical—and no one is judging. Everyone is just walking together…it’s a beautiful part of the experience.”
Before leaving for France, Cynthia connected philanthropy to her trip by creating a fundraiser for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s Food4Health program. Using the hospital’s online fundraising platform, “Cynthia’s Walk for a Cause” invited donors to make an outright gift or donation for each mile she completed.
“I have been involved with Food4Health since its inception at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital,” shares Cynthia. “I feel very strongly that food is medicine, and I think this program is incredible—we need to raise money for it. When I shared information about the Food4Health program and my fundraising goal on social media and at the Rotary Club of Torrington and Winsted, people were generous enough to donate.”
Cynthia made sure to wear her Hartford HealthCare jacket as she finally entered Santiago after 40 days of hiking, singing, eating, and networking with other travelers from around the world. She not only completed the Camino—she also raised $10,600 for Food4Health.
“I had my Hartford HealthCare jacket with me the entire time and I looked at it every day,” she said. “It reminded me of what I was doing this for. It was very profound and circular when I finally arrived in Santiago. I was thinking about Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, the doctor who encouraged me to finish, and, really, how small the world is and how connected we are. It’s our calling to care for one another.”
“Charlotte Hungerford Hospital colleagues were so proud and excited to cheer on Cynthia throughout her journey, and we are so grateful she took the time and opportunity to shine a light on Food4Health and connect her momentous accomplishment to our mission through fundraising,” said Debbie Bender, Director of Philanthropy at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
“Cynthia’s fierce determination is only matched by her generous philanthropy and service to our shared community. The funds she raised will support our work in expanding Food4Health and addressing food insecurity and diet-related illnesses for patients and families in the northwest Connecticut.”
If you, your family, or your organization is interested in fundraising for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, visit our Become a Fundraiser webpage or contact a member of our Philanthropy Team