Father Concludes 2,700-Mile Walk Honoring Daughter

A father mourning a loss has concluded a 2,700-mile journey along England’s coastal paths in tribute to his daughter. Andrew Simkins, 72, from Winsham in south Somerset, spent nearly eight years covering this distance. He expressed feeling “reconnected” with his daughter Alice, who passed away in 2016 due to two autoimmune diseases, with every step he took. The former army veteran, who served in the Army Air Corps until 2008, completed his extensive trek at Weymouth seafront in Dorset on October 27. “I walk by myself but I’m never alone – I’m always with Alice,” he stated. After finishing his initial expedition, he felt compelled to continue walking, “like Forrest Gump.” “It’s given me great solace and peace of mind to stay connected to her,” Mr Simkins further remarked. In July, the veteran commenced fundraising for the charity Lupus UK. Subsequently, he traversed coastal routes and border trails, including Hadrian’s Wall and Offa’s Dyke. To date, he has accumulated £1,330 towards his £1,988 target for the charity, a sum chosen to represent Alice’s birth date of April 19, 1988. Prior to her passing, the mother-of-one received diagnoses of lupus and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition, manifests when the body’s immune system targets healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and potentially irreversible harm. Conversely, non-Hodgkin lymphoma constitutes a form of blood cancer impacting lymphocytes, which are white blood cells integral to the immune system. According to Mr Simkins, these walks serve to perpetuate his daughter’s memory. “The one way I can connect as a father is to use these walks as a way of reflection,” he said. “To be in the present and think about her.” Donations for Lupus UK continue to be accepted through his JustGiving page. For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story submissions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. Please note that the BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.