The couple set off from Canterbury Cathedral in May, raising awareness and funds for mitochondrial disease along their epic route which is taking them through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. Last week they reached a milestone in their journey – the halfway point at the top of the Grand Saint Bernard in Switzerland. After this, it’s over the border into Italy and towards their final destination of Rome.
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 have been averaging 15 miles a day, camping along the way, and enjoying carefully planned rest days every 10 days or so.
To date, they’ve raised an impressive £2,666, including a generous anonymous donation of £1,000. “We’re so grateful to be able to make this dream a reality,” said Linda before they left home. “We hope we can raise as much as possible for this amazing charity.”
You can support Linda and Paul via their JustGiving page and follow their journey on Instagram @lindasouthwelltravels.
We wish this adventurous couple the best of luck and look forward to hearing more about this incredible trip when they get home!
