The couple set off from Canterbury Cathedral in May, raising awareness and funds for mitochondrial disease along their epic route which took them through England, France, Switzerland and Italy to their final destination of Rome. To date, they’ve raised an impressive £2,769, including a generous anonymous donation of £1,000.
They were moved to support The Lily Foundation when they heard the story of a young boy from the Isle of Wight called Teddy, whose dad works with Linda and Paul’s son. Despite having never met him before, a chance encounter on one of their final training walks brought them face-to-face with Teddy and his whole family – a moment that made their mission even more meaningful.
With months of training behind them – including hikes around the Isle of Wight, the South West Coast Path and even Switzerland – the couple averaged 15 miles a day, camping along the way, and enjoying carefully planned rest days every 10 days or so.
Last week, Linda and Paul made it to Rome in an emotional end to an incredible adventure:
- 87 days on the Via Francigena
- 10 rest days
- 1,205.3 miles walked
- 614 hours and 28 minutes on foot
But this journey was more than just statistics. On returning home to England, Linda reflected on their trip.
“Along the way, we collected more than just miles,” she said. “Blisters, blue and lost toenails, an infected toe and one fall. Days of heatwaves, sudden thunderstorms and lightning. Songs sung, deep conversations and the hum of cicadas. A snake on the path, little wall lizards darting under trees and deer in the woods. Twenty-nine days straight without a washing machine, laundry done in sinks, paired with nights of wild camping, memorable stay with the nuns, noisy and dirty hostels and the occasional clean and quiet stay. Countless churches, woodland paths, canal walks, roadside miles, mountain climbs, poppy and cornfields and olive trees. Some amazing days by Lake Bolsena, champagne with a stranger, croissant stops in the morning, pizzas from a vending machine and laughter we blame on too much fresh air. One tough 22-mile day without food, saved by a generous Dutch couple. Meeting fellow pilgrims, vineyards stretching to the horizon, foot soaks in mountain streams and sunrise views worth every early start. Bridges, kissing gates, waterfalls, rainbows, sunflowers, wildflowers, castles, hot springs, giant cactuses and fields of sweetcorn. A boat ride with cousin Matthijs in Lausanne. Pilgrim stamps collected, picnics in roadside ditches or in the most breathtaking spots. Phone calls and messages from friends and family, each message of support and love turned miles into memories, receiving the first scan pictures and heartbeat sound of our first grandchild creating a skip in our steps, and the many donations made to The Lily Foundation, giving even more meaning to every footstep. And somehow, through all the heat, cold, beauty, exhaustion and joy, not a single argument. Three months of adventure: tough, peaceful, painful, hilarious, too much and just enough. A journey we carry in our hearts forever.”
What an eloquent way to capture such a meaningful trip. Thank you, Linda and Paul, for your courage and commitment. The Lily Foundation are truly grateful for everything you’ve done to raise funds and awareness for Team Teddy and for the whole mito community.
