South West Coastal Path relay to honour late Commander Amy Gilmore MBE
The endeavour aims to fulfil Amy's dream of completing the South West Coastal Path
The Royal Navy is set to honour the late Commander Amy Gilmore MBE this weekend with a 630-mile challenge around the South West Coastal Path.
Friends, family, and service colleagues will start a 68-leg relay from Shell Bay, Studland, on Saturday 16th May at 8am, with plans to complete the challenge by 2pm on 23rd May at Minehead seafront.
The endeavour aims to fulfil Amy's dream of completing the South West Coastal Path, a journey she had hoped to take on to fundraise for charity before she was diagnosed with cancer.
Although Amy found comfort in walking or running sections of the path during her treatment, she sadly lost her fight against the disease in July 2025 without having completed the route.
Participants will use Amy's walking poles as batons passed between teams, commemorating Amy's spirit and raising funds for charities that supported her in the final months of her life.
Bringing Amy’s Dream to Life
Surgeon Commander Rachael Booth, alongside Amy's husband Steve and others, has worked tirelessly to organise the challenge.
Rachael explained, "the challenge was originally inspired by efforts to fund Amy’s Enhertu treatment, recommended through 'Make 2nds Count', and the idea of completing the South West Coastal Path for Amy has never really left me."
Leading the event's first leg on Saturday, Rachael added, "we are now taking on the challenge in her memory and on her behalf. By bringing people together through friendship, laughter, and resilience, we hope to channel our grief into something positive while capturing the spirit of #BeMoreAmy."
Honouring Amy
Commander Anna Misiak, who will finish the last leg with some of Amy’s family members, reflected on Amy's courageous spirit, saying, "Amy was an inspirational lady who never failed to take on a challenge and succeed. This is our way of honouring Amy whilst taking her with us in the form of her walking poles as relay batons."
Anna continued, "We are overwhelmed by the level of support we have received to date and hope the challenge inspires other people to believe they can do more than they can."