An Imperial march for a good cause.
[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap]omic-Con draws travelers from all over the world to celebrate beloved franchises. For one man, the journey to this event meant not only wearing a stromtrooper costume and walking hundreds of miles, but also to honor the love of this life.
On June 6th, Minnesota man Kevin Doyle began his 645-mile walk down the coast from Petaluma to San Diego, California in order to attend Comic-Con. The purpose of his trek was to honor his late wife, Eileen, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2012. Doyle hopes to raise money for his children’s charity, Eileen’s Little Angels, through his journey as well.
The stormtrooper armor Doyle wore during his walk symbolizes the love he and his wife shared for Star Wars. In fact, Kevin proposed to Eileen while wearing a Darth Vader costume in 2009.
Doyle, 57, explained to The San Diego Union Tribune that his decision to make the walk stemmed from feeling he had lost his creative spark as an illustrator and photographer after his wife died.
“In the time since she died, I’ve struggled with how to deal with the loss. I’ve been self-destructive and my art suffered,” Doyle explained, “Being out here, my mindset is an open book. I hope I find enough healing to be creative and work in that way again.”
During his trip, Doyle’s story spread, and he was met with great support from numerous folks along the way. His journey has been documented through his twitter account, showcasing various fan interactions.
Made it to SanDiego to find @SteveSansweet & members of the @501stLegion @ImperialSands waiting for me! #501MileWalk pic.twitter.com/sAFZgTT5pL
— 501 Mile Walk (@501MileWalk) July 9, 2015
On June 9th, Doyle reached his destination. In fact, fellow members of the 501st Legion greeted him at Comic-Con (above), an organization of stormtrooper fans.
Doyle is currently still at Comic-Con, meeting various fans and supporters of his wonderful cause. May the force be with you Kevin, always.
