The best gift you can give a loved one is something deep from the heart.
Many people pay tributes to the most important people in their lives, whether they are family members or friends. Some have decided to perform on big stages live on national television, and others chose to honor fallen heroes. Some even got creative in telling the story of their pawed friends.
One man paid tribute to his late wife in the most heartbreaking and inspiring way. This was a personal project for him, something that he just had to do in order to find clarity in the midst of pain and loss.
But it was more than a search for peace. He used the tribute as the best way to let others remember and know about his late wife, who had the kindest, most incredible soul. Read on to find out his powerful journey.
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Kevin Doyle's wife, Eileen, passed away three years ago from pancreatic cancer.
Both Eileen and Kevin, 57, were huge fans of the Star Wars franchise. They were both members of the "501st Legion" group, whose volunteers would dress up as Star Wars characters.
After Eileen's passing, Kevin decided to pay an incredible tribute to her. He wanted to make a walk from the Rancho Obi-Wan Star Wars museum in Petaluma, CA, to the Comic-Con entertainment convention in San Diego, which began on July 9.
What's more, he decided to wear a complete Star Wars costume — that of the Stormtrooper, a type of soldier in the fictional universe.
The aim of the walk was to raise money for his crowdfunded campaign, "Eileen's Little Angels," which will help deliver toys featuring Eileen's artwork to children who are battling cancer.
Kevin began his journey in early June, and completed it just in time for the event.
Google Maps told him that the trek would be 501 miles long, which he took as a sign — it was a perfect way to pay homage to their 501st Legion group.
He put all his camping supplies in a pet stroller, and walked anywhere between 20–45 miles a day. He would weave through traffic, and walk under the most extreme weather conditions, including rainstorms and heat waves.
He was greeted and supported on by strangers along the way. When he finally arrived at the San Diego convention, he even received a standing ovation from the crowd, which was about 6,000-strong.
"I get people that come up to me who are fighting cancer or are cancer survivors, people and their families and they just want to talk to me and thank me for raising awareness," he told The Coast News. "For me, it's just me walking to honor my wife, but then people are gathering and making it really special. And they're making it personal for them."
After making the journey across hundreds of miles and spending the weekend at the convention, Kevin said that he got the clarity he needed after his wife's death.
"With visiting and talking [during the trip], I have found the healing I was hoping for," he told The Huffington Post.
After this therapeutic experience, Kevin is now on his way back to Petaluma, CA, where he started.
Click here to find out more about Eileen's Little Angels.
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