A year in the MAKING

For three women at a crossroads, life looked rather different 12 months ago

- GILLIAN HARVEY

This is my time and I intend to make the most of it'

Harriet Thomas, 61, lives in Chichester.

‘Where do I go from here?’ I wondered. It was January 2024 and I’d been struck by the thought that nobody needed me. My mum, Susan, had died from Alzheimer’s, aged 87, in October 2023, and I’d recently retired from running a music business for children. My kids Milo, now 28, and Lily, 30, were grown, and as I’d moved into Mum’s to be near her care home, even the roof over my head was up for sale. I felt untethered.

Rather than despairing, I took time to reflect – walking, relaxing and staying away from social media. After a week or so an idea formed – I want to explore the world on foot! Mum had been adventurous – in the 70s she’d gone travelling in Peru – and she loved everything about the great outdoors. Some of my fondest memories are of walks I’ve taken with her. She’d point out plants and animals, and found joy in everything.

I decided to start in the UK, as there were still places I’d never been. I resolved to walk 1,200 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, setting myself a target of 90 days and aiming to raise £25,000 for Dementia Adventures, which offers supportive holidays for people with the disease. Having taken time to create the lightest backpack possible, I set off in August full of excitement – and it has been life-changing. Camping in a tent each night wasn’t always comfortable, my knees nearly gave up on the rocky coastal paths in Cornwall, and there was a moment near Inverness when I felt like giving up with five miles to go. But I made it. And in so many ways, it made me!