Updated on Nov 9th 2012 at 5:36 PM from the JustGiving API

Yesterday at two o'clock i finally reached Glasgow.Liz and I used to sit on the bench under the cherry tree in her brother's garden.When it was tough I used to imagine her waiting for me...sitting on the bench.As I rounded the corner I half expected her to be there....I sat alone for a while..and it felt it had been the right thing to do..Lizzie is home at last.I want to thank you all on the here not just for the money..it will help someone for sure...but also for all your kind messages...Thank you so much.Simon

I walked in the rain today along the  Clyde..and tonight i reached Cambuslang. This is my last night on the road.. Tomorrow Lizs brother Tony, my sons Finn and keir and nephew Ciaran will walk the last few miles together and so finally Lizzies ashes will be in Glasgow...the end of the road.

I am overwhelmed by the amount of money we have raised.People have been so generous. Complete strangers have contributed. Last night I walked into a pub to find somewhere to stay.. Brian Curley the owner lost his wife Mary almost 3 years ago.. without  a moment's hesitation he handed over 50 pounds. This has been the story all along. Thank you to you all... and we have not finished yet..

The jouney is not quite finished. On Sunday we will place her ashes in a place special to her in her Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

Updated on Nov 6th 2012 at 10:41 PM from the JustGiving API

Thanks to Dave Mac of Niederau...drove 2 hours to find me and walk with me..

Updated on Nov 6th 2012 at 9:06 AM from the JustGiving API

After passing through Selkirk,Peebles and Biggar I arrived in Lanark on Nov 5th.Today I begin my walk along the Clyde river into the centre of Glasgow.Lizzie always used to say she didn't come up the Clyde in a rowing boat...Just about to set out as I write..windy...wet..grey....Oh well..

Updated on Nov 6th 2012 at 9:00 AM from the JustGiving API

I walked through the Kielder forest..over the moors and me and Lizzie finally crossed into Scotland on the morning Nov 1.Lizzies brother Gerry,niece Ashley and good friend Big Tosh met me near the border and we walked together.Gerry carried Lizzies ashes through the borders.Between these three...they raised nearly 1500 ..

Updated on Nov 1st 2012 at 6:07 PM from the JustGiving API

The landlord of the Pheasant Inn at Stannnersburn kindly offered a donation soon as he heard what we are trying to do...so many people have done that along the way..it is really warming.Today I crossed the border just north of Kielder ...very emotional..started to feel Lizzie was really almost home..have to say..the hills were tough going tonight I am in Bonchester Bridge and head to Selkirk ...Lizzies brother Gerry,niece Ashley and friend Big Tosh are walking with me tomorrow...between them they've raised sponsorship of some 900 pounds...amazing...what an effort....hope the blisters will be worth it...

Updated on Oct 30th 2012 at 11:07 PM from the JustGiving API

Walked along Hadrians wall..and then up over the moors above Wark ...now the forest of Kielder to cross and we are almost there....thank you so much all of you..

Updated on Oct 25th 2012 at 6:53 PM from the JustGiving API

Fantastic...we are over 4000...I never would have believed so many people would have been so generous...Lizzie would have been really touched..thanks..

Updated on Oct 21st 2012 at 10:34 PM from the JustGiving API

Such a foggy day...very strange out in the North Yorkshire fields...reached Northallerton ..a long slog it seemed ....getting there slowly..and we almost have 4000 pounds! How good is that! Thankyou

Updated on Oct 18th 2012 at 8:57 AM from the JustGiving API

Made it to Harrowate:-) yesterday..Been a tough stretch...windy and wet but mostly windy...and never seems to be at my back!..Met again some lovely people along the way..thanks for the donations....getting up to 4000...how great is that!...Thanks ...Si

Updated on Sep 29th 2012 at 12:04 AM from the JustGiving API

Finally arrived late afternoon into London..under the Thames at Greenwich..through the Isle of Dogs and up to our old home where we spent so long...seemed the right place to go...

Updated on Sep 27th 2012 at 9:02 PM from the JustGiving API

Squelched into a dark wet Dartford...and wondering where to stay stopped at an old pub..The Wat Tyler..apparently he stopped here too on his way to London...luckily they have rooms..so here I am.London tomorrow and a small gathering for Lizzie to place her ashes. All of you who have donated thankyou...I begin to think this will help someone sometime..

Updated on Sep 21st 2012 at 3:12 PM from the JustGiving API

so...on boat from calais heading for dover...that was a tiring stretch...and emotional at calais...it is a place so associated with me and Lizzie in the early days..now heading for London...and the second part of her ashes being placed ..

Updated on Sep 17th 2012 at 11:00 PM from the JustGiving API

Striking distance of Calais...few more days...so lookng forward to a decent cuppa..

Updated on Sep 8th 2012 at 11:21 AM from the JustGiving API

Sat 8th Sept..today we are scattering Lizzies ashes that I brought from Austria in the forest as she wished.Then I leave to bring her to London and Scotland..

So..I finally arrived in Paris at the Fontainbleau Palace in the late afternoon of Satuday Sept. 1st... 5 1/2 weeks after leaving our house in Austria.

Lizzie and i used to walk around here when we first met in Paris and I remember sitting together on the grand steps of the courtyard. The courtyard is called ' Cour des Adieux' ' The courtyard of goodbyes'..It felt right to go there. It was hard to sit on those steps but it still felt right..

Thganks so much to everybody for your help ... everyone who has given some money and those who have helped me along the way... I've met some special people..

Lizzies friends are having a small ceremonyto scatter her ashes where she wished...and then I move on to the next stage .. paris to the French coast and then on to London.

 

Updated on Aug 25th 2012 at 7:32 PM from the JustGiving API

weather has broken..stormy..no rain but windy all day...just near Troyes now ...about 200 to Paris...but gonna have to stop couple if days...feet are complaining and stil a long way to go...thanks to all tye recent donations....pass the word so it keeps trickling in...thanks..Si

Updated on Aug 24th 2012 at 8:28 AM from the JustGiving API

Heatwave in France so pretty uncomfortable...trying to stay in the forests ..thursday 23..made it to Comble deux Eglises...about 300 still to Paris..trying not even to think about after that..

Updated on Aug 20th 2012 at 12:46 PM from the JustGiving API

Made it to Contrexeville in France....written some more on Facebook at Lizzies Walk..can follow on there and will try and put that on here...not so easy on the move...thanks so much to everyone..

Updated on Aug 12th 2012 at 6:27 PM from the JustGiving API

So..now in village in France at last..wahlbach north east of Basel ....joined today by old friend Jim Wallace...lost his brother recently to cancer...with me for a week...Jim is a British Airways Captain...we got lost today...enuf said..never flying BA again...Jesus!

Updated on Aug 6th 2012 at 5:50 AM from the JustGiving API

so..big blisters and painful knees...didn't expect that much pain but through it now i think...finally through Alps and into Bregenz on Swiss border today..6 Aug....week of thunderstorms ...heavy rain or bloody hot..1300 pounds! great!...keep sharing the site...thanks...S

Updated on Aug 6th 2012 at 5:43 AM from the JustGiving API

so..been a week of thunderstorms...again...wet or roasted..finally through mountains and into Bregenz on Swiss border today...Monday 6 Aug. Knees and blisters still painful but bearable...so should be able to get make better progress now......1300 quid and counting!...Great!

Updated on Jul 25th 2012 at 5:37 PM from the JustGiving API

Wow..A soaking wet day of constant rain...and just seen all the messages and money...thanks so much. Makes it easier..

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

 

I’m writing to tell you about the project to take Lizzie home.

Lizzie McIlwham was my wife and partner for almost 30 years....

Many of you reading this will have been lucky enough to have known her...and those of you who are kindly reading this and didn't .. i wish you had.

Alive..beautiful..clever..loyal..straight...loving...mad..maddening..undiplomatic ...really really funny.....a proud Scot .. an unforgettable inspirational mother to 3 sons ... a true green eyed flame haired Celtic princess if ever there was one.

She wanted a part of her ashes to be placed under her favorite tree in our garden in Niederau , on the sunny side facing the mountain. This we have done.

She also wished that some of her ashes were to be taken to the three places where she lived her life and where she has so many good friends and family . Glasgow, Paris, London.

She wanted her friends to be able to have their own small goodbye ceremonies and for a part of her to be there always …

During our last times together, I promised her a few things…

Among them...

I promised her that I would take her ashes personally to those three places.

I promised that sometime in the future we would raise some funds for research into ovarian cancer.

Lizzie was always reading a book. In hospital she was re reading one of her and my favorites … ‘As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning ‘by Laurie Lee – the story of his long walk through Spain in the 1930s.

Lizzie and I had planned to walk together on the hills near our home this summer staying in mountain huts along the way. We never will now.

Thinking on all these things… this is what I decided to do..

I’m taking 3 parts of Lizzie’s ashes as she wished …

I will be walking from our home in Niederau, Austria , first to Paris , then on to London and then on to Glasgow . I’m leaving on Wednesday ,July 25.

It will be our last adventure together, crossing the Europe she loved so much . And going home to Scotland.

2200 miles , 3500 km...

Raising some money is not the main reason for doing this. it is personal… but Lizzie wanted more to be done in the future and so it would be such a bonus if we can raise some . This is such a terrible illness ... We all friends ,girlfriends ,partners ,wives, daughters, mothers...so see what you can do...no matter how small...and if you can't help with some money - no problem - then just spread the word.

You can find more info also at www.lizzieswalk.com or on facebook at Lizzies Walk

You can also donate on your mobile... just text LIZZ59 to 70070 and it will donate 5 pounds..

 

Best wishes

Simon and our sons Tristan, Finn and Keir

 

 

 

 

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