A man from Oundle has completed an extraordinary 1,300-mile journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising £3,645 for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in memory of close family friend Elliot Roseblade.
Accompanied by his loyal border collie, Reggie, 27-year-old Finley Goodhew spent three months walking the length of Britain, averaging 15 miles a day and combining wild camping with occasional campsite stops. His route took him through some of the UK’s most iconic landscapes, from the rugged peaks of Ben Nevis to the dramatic coastline of the South West Coast Path.
Finley undertook the challenge to honour family friend Elliot, who received care at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in the final weeks of his life. Reflecting on the journey, Finley said:
“What an experience that was! I still can’t believe I’ve walked the whole of the UK. I’ve been so busy since the walk finished and getting back into the real world, but when I do have time to sit down and relax, I often get flashbacks of my trip and have many fond memories.”
While every day brought something new, several moments stood out. After nearly 250 miles on foot, Finley reunited with family in Tyndrum for his first planned weekend off.
“My dad joined me for four days on the West Highland Way,” he recalled, laughing. “He didn’t know it was one of the toughest stretches of the route! But we certainly made the most of the lochside beaches and the occasional pub.”
The journey wasn’t without its challenges. Midway through, Reggie injured his paw and had to take a break from the trek, leaving Finley to continue without his trusted companion.
But Finley refused to be downhearted and was always amazed by the kindness of strangers along the way. “The small highlights are endless and the chats I had with people all seemed to come at perfect times,” Finley said. “Every single one of these factors helped me get through.”
Documenting the entire journey on Instagram, Finley shared daily updates and heartfelt reflections, never losing sight of his inspiration for the journey.
“Elliot was most definitely with me along the way. A couple of days I was struggling for somewhere to stay I would think ‘what would Elliot do?’ He led me two separate times to the nearest pub which both times happened to have room for a tent without any stress!
“I really believe he would’ve been very grateful and slightly mind blown that I’d done this in his memory.”
The walk also resulted in new friendships, one of which turned into something very special. A chance encounter with fellow walker Lauren on Day 19 led to her joining Finley for part of the journey. Now, the two are living together in Edinburgh and planning their next adventure – a wonderfully unexpected bonus from an already life-changing experience.
Finley concluded: “It’s definitely a memory that’ll live forever with me.”
To find out more about Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, visit: www.sueryder.org/thorpehall
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About Sue Ryder:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years, we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. We are a safe and reassuring hand you can reach for. From providing care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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