I'm going to Finland!
Help me bring it back to Belfast
The Story
In February, I entered a contest to win a trip to Finland during National Sauna Week. I’ve entered other contests before on social media and didn’t think much of it.
Five days later, I found out I won.
The prize is a trip to Finland to attend the World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä, sponsored by the Finlandia Foundation National—the largest organization supporting Finnish culture in the U.S.
This was completely unexpected, and I’m so excited!
I’ll be immersing myself in sauna culture in the place it originated—the “motherland” of sauna. My journey begins in Helsinki, then I'll travel into Finland’s Lakeland region for the World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä. From there, I plan to spend time in other parts of the country—including northern regions like Oulu and Lapland—as well as coastal cities such as Tampere and Turku.
Since launching Salty Witch Sauna this winter, I’ve learned a lot about being a sauna operator—and I know there is so much more to learn.
This trip is an opportunity to deepen that understanding and bring it back to my sauna service and to the Belfast community.
This opportunity came unexpectedly, and I’m doing what I can to make the most of it!
The contest win covers airfare and the conference pass. I’m seeking support for the additional costs—lodging and travel within Finland—as I spend time in different regions learning and experiencing sauna culture more deeply.
How You Can Support
I’m seeking support to help make this trip possible. Contributions will go toward lodging, local travel, and the additional costs of spending time in different regions of Finland.
If you’d like to be part of this journey, here are a few ways to participate:
-
$20–$100
A heartfelt thank you -
$120-$250
A handwritten postcard from Finland (I’ll follow up for your mailing address) -
$275-$500
A community sauna session when I return, where I’ll share stories and insights from the trip -
$1000
A private sauna session for you and up to 5 guests