A Cancer Patient’s Trek Along the California Mission Trail

Cancer patient Edie Littlefield Sundby set an unusual goal for herself: To walk the entire 800 miles of the California Mission Trail, visiting the state’s 21 historic missions along the way.

“If I can move, I’m not sick.” That was cancer patient Edie Littlefield Sundby’s mantra, and it inspired her to set an unusual goal for herself: To become just the sixth person to walk the entire 800 miles of the California Mission Trail, visiting the state’s 21 historic missions along the way.

Click through to join Edie as she shares some memorable moments from her journey. For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

Day 7: Edie walking along Pacific Coast Highway out of Laguna Beach toward Newport, California

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Day 7: Edie walking along Pacific Coast Highway out of Laguna Beach toward Newport, California


Day 18: Edie completes a 15.4-mile walk from Carpinteria, California, to Mission Santa Barbara

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Day 18: Edie completes a 15.4-mile walk from Carpinteria, California, to Mission Santa Barbara

Day 18: Edie with Father Larry Gosselin, Associate Pastor, and Father Charles Talley, Pastor, at Mission Santa Barbara

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Day 18: Edie with Father Larry Gosselin, Associate Pastor, and Father Charles Talley, Pastor, at Mission Santa Barbara


Day 21: Edie receives a blessing from Father Gerald Barron at Mission Santa Ines.

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Day 21: Edie receives a blessing from Father Gerald Barron at Mission Santa Ines.


Day 23: Edie poses in the bell tower at Mission La Purisima, near Lompoc, California

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Day 23: Edie poses in the bell tower at Mission La Purisima, near Lompoc, California


Day 31: Edie walks along the railroad path between Mission San Miguel and Nacimiento Lake

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Day 31: Edie walks along the railroad path between Mission San Miguel and Nacimiento Lake.


Day 40: Edie arrives at Carmel Mission after traveling 15 miles from Laguna Seca.

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Day 40: Edie arrives at Carmel Mission after traveling 15 miles from Laguna Seca.

Day 40: Edie lights a candle at Mission Carmel.

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Day 40: Edie lights a candle at Mission Carmel.


Day 45: Edie walks along San Juan Grade Road as she makes her way from Salinas to Mission San Juan Bautista.

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Day 45: Edie walks along San Juan Grade Road as she makes her way from Salinas to Mission San Juan Bautista.


Day 45: Edie lights a candle at Mission San Juan Bautista after traveling nearly 14 miles from Salinas.

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Day 45: Edie lights a candle at Mission San Juan Bautista after traveling nearly 14 miles from Salinas.


Day 45: Edie outside Mission San Juan Bautista

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Day 45: Edie outside Mission San Juan Bautista

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