Peterborough Hiker's Epic Journey Raises Thousands for Hospice Charity
A man from Peterborough who trekked the entire length of the United Kingdom with his border collie over three months has celebrated the extraordinary kindness of strangers encountered along the route – including his current girlfriend, whom he met on the trail itself. Finley Goodhew, aged 27, embarked on the ambitious John O'Groats to Land's End walk between June and September 2025 to generate funds for Sue Ryder. This effort honored the memory of close family friend Elliot Roseblade, who spent his final days at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough after a bowel cancer diagnosis in late 2024.
"Elliot was my mum's best mate, so he had always been around since I was little," Finley explained. "He was the funniest guy ever and would always make us laugh. He had bowel cancer, and it was all pretty quick. He found out about it, and then six months later, he passed. The care Sue Ryder gave him sounded really good, so it was definitely the charity that I wanted to do the walk for."
From Pub Crawl to National Trek
Following Elliot's passing, his family and friends united for a 10-mile pub crawl in their local area. "The little pub crawl we did for him in the local area sparked something and made me think that I could walk further and raise money in memory of him," Finley stated. He commenced his wild camping adventure in June last year, posting daily updates of the challenge with his beloved dog Reggie on Instagram and Facebook under the handle finandreg.
During week two, Finley encountered his now-partner, 31-year-old Lauren McGeorge. "It was day 19, and I just remember her coming over the hill on West Highland Way and she stopped to say hi to Reg. We had a little chat and I gave her my Instagram and waited to hear from her," Finley recalled. This brief interaction lingered in Lauren's mind. "I thought Fin and Reg were so cool. I just couldn't stop thinking about him. I couldn't pinpoint what it was in the beginning, but I just had this feeling that I'd see him again," Lauren said.
Connection Deepens on the Trail
"I remember just watching his videos every day on Instagram and it was really lovely because I really missed walking after I finished the West Highland Way walk with my family, and watching his videos felt like part of me was still walking," Lauren added. "I've always loved walking and hiking since I was really little, so it was great to meet someone who loved it equally as much." After several weeks of texting and phone calls, Finley invited Lauren to join him for a week of his challenge.
"The week I had with Lauren was definitely one of the best weeks that I had during the whole challenge," Finley emphasized. "I thought it would be the worst stretch of the walk because Reg had hurt his paw so was off for a week or two so I was feeling low, but then Lauren joined me and it was amazing. I was wild camping 90% of the time during the challenge, but when I was with Lauren we met a couple at a pub and they asked us if we wanted to stay with them for a night and washed our clothes and cooked us dinner."
Kindness of Strangers and Personal Growth
Finley reflected on how his confidence expanded throughout the trip. "The trip really helped build my confidence and I learnt that I can talk to anyone," he noted. "I'd spend hours and hours by myself walking, so as soon as I saw another person I got so excited to have a little chat. It was so lovely to meet so many like-minded people. People were so kind, they would give Reg a sausage or would buy me a drink."
During challenging moments, Finley said that generous donations provided crucial motivation. "Some days when I was low I would see a donation and it would give me a massive boost to keep going," he shared. Finley and Reggie completed their 1,300-mile walk at Land's End, Cornwall, in September, celebrating raising more than £3,600 with family and friends.
New Life Together in Scotland
After the walk, Finley and Lauren maintained contact and discovered they shared similar visions for the future. In January, Lauren packed up her life in bustling Edinburgh to move into Finley's van. The couple now resides in the picturesque countryside of Tayport, just below Dundee. Finley currently works in irrigation on a golf course, while Lauren is employed at a care home. They explore Scotland's stunning landscapes together with Reggie during their spare time.
"I have lived in Cornwall for the last nine years, and in my van for three years, and Lauren had plans to save up and buy her own van so I just thought, why don't we move into my van together," Finley explained. "Living in a van is a simple life, and we enjoy the freedom of it. I work 11 days in a row, but then get three days off so we always try to get away for those three days and explore Scotland."
Lauren concurred, adding: "It's so beautiful here. There's a huge forest called Tentsmuir Forest, which is right next to the sea. Everyone is so friendly and very laid-back. Walking is a medicine for me, just being in the trees or next to the sea is like meditation."
Future Plans and Shared Dreams
The couple is currently saving for a significant hiking trip and has substantial plans for their future. "Our visions for the future have both merged, which is really lovely. I always thought this way of life was just a dream, but now that I have met Fin, everything feels real and amazing," Lauren expressed. "Right now we are saving up to do a big hiking trip in Scotland and maybe in Europe. In the long term, we want to find a big plot of land and build a container house, and maybe have a campsite one day."
