Woman begins walking around entire UK in memory of wife

Tracey Howe has now began walking 5000 miles anti-clockwise around the British mainland coastline in memory of her partner Angela White, 58.

The 60-year-old, who lives in Bearsden, left on Friday to fulfill their retirement dream of travelling around Britain in a motorhome - something they had always planned on doing together.

She took on the brutal challenge after walking helped her work through her grief and hopes to meet other people who can relate.

Tracey and Angela were together for 37 years and had two sons (Image: Sourced)

Tracey is walking in memory of her wife, Angela who died in 2023 aged just 58, of blood cancer. (Image: Colin Mearns)

Angela with Tracey (Image: Sourced)

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Tracey said: “We had always planned to get a campervan and drive around Britain when we retired, but that was before Angela became sick.

“When she passed away I found myself feeling really depressed. I started walking to feel better, at first just walking our dog Poppy but then I went further and further.

“It was so therapeutic so I had the idea to walk right around the UK and take the motorhome with me.

“The plan is for it to take me exactly 365 days, which is walking for 20 miles a day six days a week.

“I hope I meet people and can share my story and hear theirs. I would love it if people joined me at parts and I can tell them about Angela.”

Tracey hopes to tell people about Angela on her journey (Image: Newsquest)

Tracey Howe pictured with her dog Poppy and campervan. (Image: Colin Mearns)

Tracey first noticed something was wrong as Angela's behaviour changed when she retired from being a mental health nurse after Covid.

Loved ones thought she might have dementia before she suffered a sudden seizure and scans revealed she had a large brain tumour, two years ago.

She underwent surgery and began to improve before developing back pain which led to doctors discovering she also had aggressive blood cancer, causing her to pass away last year.

Now she is collecting crochet hearts to hand out on her trip in Angela’s memory to remember her and help others.

Walking helped Tracey through her grief of losing Angela (Image: Sourced)

Tracey starts her 5000 mile, anti-clockwise walk around the British mainland coastline over the coming year to raise money for five charities. (Image: Colin Mearns)

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Tracey explained: “I want to collect 5,000 little crochet hearts so I can share one for every mile I complete.

“It is for anyone who has ever lost someone so they can keep it and remember them by.

“Angela was a very warm and caring person, that is why she was such a good nurse.

“We met in the hospital working together, and were together for 37 years and raised two sons Will, 26, and Danny 23.

“She was very conscious of people’s thoughts and feelings and always wanted to help people.

“I want to do this for her and hopefully keep helping people.”

The card Tracey will hand out with each heart  (Image: Newsquest)

Tracey has set herself the target of raising £100,000 for five different charities including Brainstrust, Marie Curie and Beatson Cancer Charity.

She will also raise funds for Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can donate to Tracey here and follow her on social media here.