Tracey Howe walked over the Humber Bridge this week to reach the 3,000-mile mark in her round-Britain hike.
The 61-year-old has also recorded 6.5 million steps since starting the year-long walk in Glasgow last November.
The 5,000-mile hike aims to raise £100,000 for five charities in memory of her wife who died of cancer.
Tracey, from East Dunbartonshire in Scotland, says: “It feels amazing to reach 3,000 miles and I am very proud of what I have achieved so far.
“When I set out from Glasgow I didn’t dare to think about reaching this point, let alone walking the entire coast of Britain, but here I am.
“There have been many highs and lows over the past seven months but I am now in a daily routine and I feel much fitter.
“I hope that people will continue to follow my progress and donate to the all-important goal of raising many thousands of pounds charity.”
Tracey reveals how she came up with the idea of Tracey’s Trek after Angela White, her partner of almost 40 years, died in 2023.
The retired professor says: “When Angela passed away aged just 58, she left a horrific gaping hole in my life. But I decided I wanted to turn my grief into a positive.
“I set out from Glasgow on 1st November 2024, and the long walk has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, both mentally and physically, but I think Angela would be proud of me.
“I am doing it for her and also to raise as much money as possible for charities that are close to my heart.”
Tracey, who brought up two now grown-up sons with Angela, has chosen Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel to benefit from the hike.
She explains: “The NHS, The Beatson and Marie Curie gave our family tremendous support when Angela was diagnosed with cancer. She had two blood cancers, myeloma and amyloidosis, which her doctors descried as the most aggressive they had ever seen.
“I am also supporting brainstrust because prior to the cancer, Angela had also suffered a brain tumour. It was a benign meningioma but it caused her many health difficulties.
“It was such a cruel blow that Angela was recovering from the brain tumour when we found out about the cancers. Tragically, she died only months later.”
Tracey’s sister-in-law, who has breast cancer, has chosen the other two other charities.
The Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow is the start and finish point of Tracey’s Trek.
There was another reason for the UK coastal walk. Tracey and Angela, who were married for 17 years, had decided that after retiring they would travel in a motorhome around the British coast.
Tracey says: “During my long walk, I am visiting a lot of places significant to us as a couple and it will give me an opportunity to think about those memories.
“I think about Angela every day and I talk to her while I’m walking, so this is a pilgrimage of sorts.
“It will be a special way to maintain a connection with Angela, who was my soulmate, and also have a sense of purpose because I am raising money for charity.”
Tracey is walking an average of 20 miles daily, six days each week to complete an anti-clockwise circuit of the entire mainland British coast.
Friends and family are accompanying her in a motorhome and she is appealing for people along the route to offer a place to park and join her for some the miles.
Tracey is handing out 5,000 crocheted hearts – a heart for every mile walked.
She has support from:
- Asda, which has offered Tracey meals in their supermarket cafes
- The National Chef of Scotland Gary Maclean, who has created menus of meals that can be made in a motorhome
- Scottish musicians The Proclaimers, who are allowing her to adapt one of their most well-known songs, “I Will Walk 500 miles”, to “I will walk 5,000 miles” as the sub-title for her challenge.
If you would like to support Tracey on her trey, you can donate to her fundraiser here: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/4117/traceystrek