Widow halfway through 5,000-mile charity challenge

A widow walking 5,000 miles (8,047km) around the British coastline in memory of her late wife has reached the halfway mark in Kent.

Tracey Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, started her challenge from her home city in November and plans to finish there on 31 October.

Ms Howe, who is currently walking through Kent, hopes to raise £100,000 to be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel.

"It's easy to live for tomorrow, but we need to make the most of each day," she said.

The mother-of-two, who lost her wife Angela to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition had been an opportunity for her to process her grief.

Ms Howe, 61, added: "When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief.

"I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time.

"Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill."

Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles (32km) a day, six days a week, has already raised more than £30,000.

Additional reporting from PA Media.

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