IT is that time of year where boyfriends up and down the country go to great lengths to show their partner just how much they care.
And one man who quite literally went the extra mile this Valentine’s Day was Dave Tate (40), from Stalybridge, who travelled all the way to Nelson on foot — to prove the power of love.
After his car recently failed its MOT, Dave was determined to avoid the two-and-a-half hour train journey to Pendle.
And he decided to think of alternative ways to deliver a card and chocolates to his girlfriend Rebecca Jane Devine (27) and his one-year-old daughter Katie Lou.
The pair met over Facebook two years ago, while Rebecca, a portrait artist, was on holiday in Lanzarote.
The 34-mile trek seemed like the perfect idea, with the father-of-four currently being in training for the Manchester Marathon in April.
The graphic designer is working hard to raise funds for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, after he and a friend were caught in a horrendous storm at the summit of Scafell Pike in July.
Dave described how he had nearly given up and convinced himself he “was a goner”, when the volunteers involved in the £24,000 search operation found him.
He is also hopeful that his loving gesture will encourage more people to sponsor the team who saved his life.
Speaking to the Leader Times Newspapers from Oldham, while on his romantic ramble, Dave said: “Rebecca thinks I am mad as a March Hare for doing this.
“But I am an optimist — even when I was apparently an hour away from hypothermia I was.
“This is a good way to spend Valentine’s Day.
“I am going to dedicate myself to Wasdale Mountain Rescue Time for the next 12 months. It is the least that I can do.”
Yesterday, Dave anticipated that the journey, which he started at 7-30am, would take up to 12 hours to complete.
He was hopeful of arriving at Rebecca’s house in time to put Katie Lou to bed, and “enjoy a nice evening in front of the TV with Beccy”.
He is now keen to organise other fund-raising missions, including a bike ride from London to Paris.
To sponsor Dave visit http://www.justgiving.com/scafell-massive