SAN DIEGO, Cali. -- A man dressed as a "Star Wars" Stormtrooper is on a 501-mile journey down the California coast to honor his late wife.
Kevin Doyle of Minnesota decided to make the trek after looking up the distance between a "Star Wars" museum in Petaluma, Calif., to San Diego. The total distance registered at 501 miles, and since he and his late wife, Eileen, were part of the 501st Legion, he made a pact with himself to start walking.
Eileen lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2012. Doyle said he never fully recovered and thought the idea of the 501-mile journey down the California coastline was a sign to help him heal and honor his wife.
Kevin Doyle and his wife were huge Star Wars fans.
Since both shared a love for "Star Wars," Doyle thought it would be appropriate to make the trek in his Stormtrooper outfit. The two were also guest artists in Minnesota comic shows, where they showcased their talents.
He also hopes his efforts will not only help mend his broken heart but also inspire others to donate to his nonprofit, Eileen's Angels. He is trying to generate enough money to create care packages to give to children battling cancer. The care packages will contain items branded with Eileen's artwork.
The two were also guest artists in Minnesota comic shows.
His final destination is the San Diego Convention Center, where he plans to arrive on Thursday — the first full day of Comic-Con 2015. After Comic-Con, he plans to head back up to Northern California by foot, but said he will take the train from time to time.
Although the highway route from San Francisco to San Diego is 501 miles, the coastal route he took is 645. The LA Times reports that Doyle has walked between 20 and 45 miles every day to campgrounds along the coast.
