National Walking Month – Sue Saker’s update from the South West Coast Path

When is National Walking Month?

May 2023 marks National Walking Month, celebrating the health and wellbeing benefits of getting out and walking more. Walking can also offer therapeutic qualities for those who are grieving. It often improves mental health and sleep quality, and can ease loneliness if walking with company.

Sue walks the South West Coast Path

Sue Saker decided that a walking challenge was how she would work through the grief of losing her husband, Richard, in 2022.

‘This story came about as a consequence of the devastating loss of my brave husband to prostate cancer in May 2022. My grief these last 8-months has been the toughest thing I’ve ever had to endure in my life; it still is, but my one major saviour is to walk. It’s my sanctuary, it’s where nature does its work. It’s where in difficult times, I try to make sense of the world and my place within it, especially now as memories of us together drift back and forth, leaving their mark and lead me on to wonder who I may become without him.’

 

 

 

On Monday 17 April, Sue set off alone to walk 320-miles of the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Falmouth to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Her story was even covered by the BBC News team.

Updates from the Path – Sue’s walking challenge

Tuesday 30 May

“This 320 mile coastal walk has given me both strength and healing in mind and body and I’m hoping that something of its “magic” may be captured and stay within me for ever. I hear his words in my head “You’ll be alright” and I am.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission complete

Sunday 28 May

Well I’ve done it! With Richard’s love & protection and my sheer grit & determination to succeed, I’ve reached the half way point of the SWCP – 315 miles. I arrived at Porthallow this afternoon and this is the forever photo. I feel really chuffed and very excited and can’t quite believe it! I’ve approx’ 7 more miles to walk tomorrow to Helford, then across the ferry to Helford Passage. On Mon 29th May, I will complete the remaining few miles on the exact day a yr ago that I lost my darling man. My finishing line of this momentous adventure of discovery will finally come to an end at Pendennis Point, Falmouth. I send a huge THANK YOU to all of you who stayed with me throughout and believed in me and my story One Woman and His dog. Thank you too for your donations to my cause. Lots of Love from Sue xx

 

Monday 22 May

“Memories of this time last year are in my head and I’m crying again and talking out loud to him on the path, going over those last few days, but it’s ok, of course I will feel that way and I know that this walk has allowed me to really begin to accept that he has died and that in spite of the pain that knowledge causes and which continues to hurt, I think I will be alright.

I can’t really yet make sense of all that I’ve felt and experienced these last 6 weeks, but I think that maybe it will gradually reveal itself over the months ahead.”

 

Wednesday 24 May

“All the time and all the way. Richard and my life with him and the memories of us together have not diminished, but the grief attached to him not being with me has been lightened. Those debilitating feelings of loss and pain have been released into the wind and out over the sea, and my senses have been awakened and free to receive it’s beauty, it’s magnificence, it’s dangers also.

It’s been a truly spiritually uplifting, soothing and healing experience and I hope it remains with me when I return home.”

Wednesday 10 May

“Less than half a mile from Watergate Bay, a sudden storm raged from across the sea with little warning and hit me at the top of the cliff as I made my decent. Thank god I had a stock proof fence on my left to grab hold of with both hands to stop myself from being blown over the edge. I held on for dear life and literally crawled my way along to a small gate and managed to get through into the field away from the cliff edge with gale force winds relentlessly pounding at my body and torrential rain slicing at my skin.

It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I got to the Rd & walked down to the Bay where I found shelter although all the cafes were closing up because of the storm.

Shortly after another guy who was also walking but further back along the path than me, turned up too and was visibly shaken saying he was really scared. I hear Richard’s words ringing in my ears ‘How are you going to keep yourself safe?’ Well maybe he was with me yesterday and showed me the way out. Love him. Xx”

 

Sunday 1 May

‘For me, this walk is throwing up all sorts of questions and challenges, fears and pleasures – a tumble of emotions both past, present and God knows what’s coming next or what the future holds?

I’m just coming to the end of my second week and I barely know who I am now that I’ve removed myself from all that is familiar – I wonder if Richard thinks so too?

I find more than ever that I’m wanting to desperately pull myself emotionally closer to him for security, whilst at the same time, being aware that I’m falling further away – and that makes me very sad.’

Tuesday 18 April

‘The first day to Porlock Weir was beautiful but hard – 9 miles and strenuous in places- by the time I arrived at my accommodation I was shattered, had supper and was out for the count. Today should be easier as I’m splitting a 12 miler to Lynmouth. Had a dream of my husband last night – he was here in the room bending down to get something from the suitcase – so close I could almost touch him. I awoke and felt sad and cried – first dream of him for some time. It all feels so strange.’

Friday 28 April

‘As I’m ahead of myself re walking, I’m taking today off – my first one in two weeks – (I’m getting fitter and stronger).

Tomorrow I walk to Clovelly 11.2 miles, then on to Hartland where the landscape and walks will be tougher again and wilder too so I’ll be happy!

On Monday first of May I meet up with the SWCP with my friends from Bude and staying at theirs for three nights with them kindly transporting me back and forth each day. Lots of changes are filtering through my mind and soul this week which I can’t quite fathom but which are having an effect I can’t explain amongst them.’

 

For more updates on Sue’s epic walk – follow her progress on Instagram.

Walking through Grief support group

Understanding the therapeutic benefits of walking, Dorothy House offers a bereavement ‘Walking through Grief’ group, which Sue herself has attended. Each walk is supported by two experienced volunteer walk leaders from the Dorothy House Bereavement Team. They meet at various locations, and offer a variety of gentle guided walks through the Wiltshire countryside. The group provides the opportunity for company and sharing with others who are also bereaved.

National Walking Month – get involved!

You can find twenty tips here to help you fit twenty minutes of walking into your day. It really is a great way to improve mental and physical wellbeing!

Visit Sue’s Just Giving page here or follow her journey on Instagram at @onewomanandhisdog. You can also find out more about National Walking Month here.