Dad who lost his daughter at 13 has raised thousands for Zoe’s Place with walks in her memory

A retired teacher from Liverpool is about to set off on his eighth walk in memory of his daughter after raising almost £130,000 for Zoe’s Place.

Ged Finnegan from Woolton organised the first 26-mile Kate’s Coastal Walk in 2018, to coincide with the 20^th anniversary of his daughter’s death when she was just 13.

Since then it’s become an annual event, setting off from Otterspool to walk the equivalent of a marathon to Leasowe Lighthouse – with a ferry ride on the way.

This year’s Kate’s Coastal Walk is on Saturday March 28, and Ged says 75 walkers have already signed up for the cross-Mersey challenge.

Ged said:

“We’ve managed to raise a total of £129,000 over the years for Zoe’s Place and although I never had any goal in mind when I started it’s taken on a life of its own,”

“People join in from all walks of life, there’s a core of regulars who do it every year, some people have come and gone, and we get new people joining us each time.

“I’m always trying to get as many people involved as I can but in the end I can’t lose sight of the fact that although it’s to raise money for Zoe’s it’s also something I like to do so my daughter’s name isn’t forgotten.”

Ged’s daughter was never cared for by Zoe’s Place, it was only when he saw a programme on TV about the families it helps that he chose to support the children’s hospice.

“It was 20 years after she died and I wanted to do something in her memory,” he explains. “I’d been doing a lot of walking to find some solitude and some peace so I had the germ of an idea and by sheer chance on telly I saw a programme about Zoe’s Place.

“I’d honestly never heard of them but I saw a couple of parents and their child, and the despair on their faces, so I got in touch and organised the first walk.

“Now I always do it every year around March 26 which is when Kate died, on the nearest weekend.”

Walkers meet at the Red Bull statue on Otterspool around 7.30am, setting off towards the Pier Head at 8am. 

Wearing Zoe’s Place T-shirts, they get the ferry to Seacombe at 10am, before walking to New Brighton and on to Leasowe Lighthouse.

“Once we get there we sit and have a butty and take a photo, then it’s back to New Brighton for about 2.30pm, where we have half an hour for a drink, and on to Seacombe to get the ferry back at 4.20pm.”

Ged says although the entire walk is the distance of a marathon, it’s flat and there are lots of stops en route.

“And people don’t have to do all of it,” he stresses. “Some just go from Otterspool to the Pier Head, some get off at Seacombe and then stop at New Brighton. It doesn’t matter how far they walk, I’m just happy to raise the money and it’s entirely down to each person what they want to do.”

In addition to contributions from each walker which go towards the total, Zoe’s Place loan buckets for the event so more donations can be collected on the way.

Ged says it’s become a wonderful day for a very worthwhile local cause.

“The atmosphere on the walk is always great so everyone enjoys themselves and we’ve even had people with champagne and prosecco on the ferry!”

Anyone interested in joining Kate’s Coastal Walk this year can contact Ged on 07908325002 or email: gedkm@hotmail.com

Find out how you can support their campaign here.

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