14/11/2026
A huge thank you to Simone who walked 35 miles in memory of her mum Mandy, raising over ÂŁ700 for Brake.
Mandy died in a collision in South Africa on 22 August 1997 when her daughter Simone was just six. Simone turned 35 this year – the age Mandy was when she died – which she felt was incredibly significant. Since having her own children, Simone has thought about her mum even more, and about all the things she never got the chance to experience.
That’s where the idea for 35 Miles for Mandy came from. Starting on 22 August, the 29th anniversary of Mandy’s death, Simone walked a total of 35 miles by the end of the month – one mile for every year of her mum’s life.
“I actually walk quite a lot normally as I have a toddler and a four-month-old, and my baby comes pretty much everywhere strapped to me in his carrier! My five-year-old Golden Retriever also comes along on every walk: he loves it,” Simone said. “But I wanted these miles to include additional, more intentional walks in mum’s memory rather than simply counting my usual day-to-day steps.”
Reflecting back on her walking challenge, Simone added: “One of the loveliest parts has been that I haven’t walked alone. I had friends or family accompanying me on every walk, which made it feel even more special.”
Thank you to Simone for supporting Brake in memory of Mandy.
If you have been inspired by Simone to walk in memory of a loved one, find out more on our website https://www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week/fundraise -mile or email our community relationship fundraiser Emma Rowe on [email protected].
