Comic-Con 2015: Minnesota Man Walks Over 600 Miles Dressed As Stormtrooper To Honor His Late Wife
Comic-Con 2015 is off to one heck of a start, and while the annual convention means fun and games for most, for one Minnesota man, it is a way of remembering his late wife.
According to E! News, 57-year-old Kevin Doyle decided to make this year’s Comic-Con more than just a trip to San Diego. Doyle’s wife, Eileen Doyle, was more than just his wife, but also someone who shared his passion for Star Wars.
The Washington Post stated that Eileen Doyle passed away in 2012 due to pancreatic cancer, and ever since, Kevin has been struggling to move forward while also trying to find ways to keep the memory of his wife alive. The report went on to say that Kevin had already planned a trip to Rancho Obi-Wan, a Star Wars museum in Petaluma, California. Once he realized he had already made plans for this trip, Kevin reportedly decided to make a side trip to Comic-Con 2015.
“When he Google-mapped the distance between San Francisco and San Diego, the result was 501 miles,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, “Since he and Eileen were members of the 501st Legion, he saw it as a sign.”
That’s when the idea of walking the distance from Petaluma to San Diego hit. This was the way to honor his late wife, and in a way that he knew his wife would truly appreciate. After putting together a Twitter account for friends and family to follow, Kevin kicked off his trip on June 6, 2015 and let everyone know that his total journey would end up being a total of 630 miles.
Ready to go! We’ll call this Mile Zero…630 miles to San Diego! #501MileWalk @501stLegion @CentralGarrison pic.twitter.com/i3PWhBG0Tc
— 501 Mile Walk (@501MileWalk) June 6, 2015
Throughout his journey, Kevin made sure to keep everyone updated on his whereabouts, and it quickly gained a pretty decent Twitter following, topping off at 479 followers as of this report.
“This is where the fun begins” I’m off! The #501MileWalk has officially begun! Video at http://t.co/unSuxSUZ6L Thanks again @SteveSansweet — 501 Mile Walk (@501MileWalk) June 6, 2015
If anyone sees me walking over the next month & snaps a photo, I’d love to see them. Please post them using #501MileWalk. Thank you kindly!
— 501 Mile Walk (@501MileWalk) June 7, 2015
First photo from the road! Thanks for sharing @CommKr8veWriter! “#501MileWalk Near Helen Putnum” pic.twitter.com/9ymWNAWNn1 — 501 Mile Walk (@501MileWalk) June 7, 2015
Kevin’s long journey finally came to an end yesterday as he finally arrived at Comic-Con 2015 and was greeted by members of the 501st Legion, making an already special moment even more special.
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
This journey was more than just a publicity stunt For Kevin Doyal — it was a way to honor his wife’s memory, and for those who were able to spot him along the journey, they were touched by his story. What did you think of Kevin’s journey to Comic-Con 2015? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
[Image via Twitter]
