'We just chose to walk to one happy place on Earth to the other': Family walk 4,000 miles from Disneyland to Disney World in honor of daughter, 8, who died of cancer

  • Jonathan and Jennifer Cobb and their three children, aged 13, 11 and 4, walked for ten months Disneyland to Disney World
  • The 4,000 mile walk was in honor of their daughter Julia, who died of a rare bone and tissue cancer two years ago
  • They finished their 14-state trek on June 21 - Father's Day - and celebrated in Disney World, where Julia died on the last day of a Make-A-Wish trip
  • The Cobb family now hope to build a 'castle' in Houston where they live to honor Julia and house families being treated at nearby hospitals  

A couple and their three children have walked 4,000 miles from Disneyland to Disney World to honor their daughter who died of a rare bone and tissue cancer two years ago.

After eight-year-old Julia Cobb died of Ewig's sarcoma on her Make-A-Wish trip in October 2013, her family decided to drop everything and walk across the country. 

The Cobb family, of Houston, finished their ten-month walk from Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to Disney World in Orlando, Florida - where they trekked about 20 miles per day - on June 21, Father's Day.

Throughout the 320-day, 4,000-mile journey, Jennifer and Jonathan Cobb, along with their three children and 14-year-old dog, stopped at churches, schools and business to meet families dealing with childhood cancer. 

Jonathan and Jennifer Cobb, along with their three children, 13-year-old Jonathan (left), 11-year-old Jenna (right) and four-year-old Jaxi (center) walked 4,000 miles from Disneyland to Disney World

Jonathan and Jennifer Cobb, along with their three children, 13-year-old Jonathan (left), 11-year-old Jenna (right) and four-year-old Jaxi (center) walked 4,000 miles from Disneyland to Disney World

The family decided to do the walk in honor of their daughter and sister, Julia Cobb, who died of a rare bone and tissue cancer in 2013

The family decided to do the walk in honor of their daughter and sister, Julia Cobb, who died of a rare bone and tissue cancer in 2013

Julia died at just eight years old on the last day of a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip to Disney World in October 2013

Julia died at just eight years old on the last day of a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip to Disney World in October 2013

The family visited 14 states during their journey, beginning in California, stopping in their home state of Texas, and end ending in Florida

The family visited 14 states during their journey, beginning in California, stopping in their home state of Texas, and end ending in Florida

Before leaving for the 14-state trip, the Cobb family started the JuCan Foundation, which stems from the 'Ju' in Julia and the 'can' of cancer. 

The family was getting stopped 15 to 20 times a day as word of their journey spread on social media, Jonathan Cobb told the Palm Beach Post.

The idea for the walk across the United States originated when Jonathan Cobb beat his own cancer in 2006. But with four kids, the trek never materialized. 

But once Julia died, he decided it was time, saying 'it's kind of fun to do the impossible', quoting Walt Disney himself. 

The family started their trek in Anaheim, California at Disneyland in August 2014, less than a year after Julia died

The family started their trek in Anaheim, California at Disneyland in August 2014, less than a year after Julia died

The Cobb family documented their trip on social media, through the JuCan Foundation, which was created in honor of Julia

The Cobb family documented their trip on social media, through the JuCan Foundation, which was created in honor of Julia

They walked for approximately nine hours a day for 320 days, stopping in each state they crossed to talk to  other famlies dealing with childhood cancer 

They walked for approximately nine hours a day for 320 days, stopping in each state they crossed to talk to  other famlies dealing with childhood cancer 

His wife, Jennifer Cobb, and three children, 13-year-old Jonathan, 11-year-old Jenna and four-year-old Jaxi tagged along for the journey, which began last August. 

They walked, in neon-colored shirts reading 'JuCan', approximately nine hours a day alongside an SUV carrying ice, Gatorade and food for the family. 

'Julia taught us well - to go to your happy place - so naturally when she passed away, it was, "let's go to our happy place." We just chose to walk to one happy place on Earth to the other,” Jonathan Cobb told My Fox Orlando. 

They spent their nights in hotels, where Jennifer Cobb would wash the outfits that had been sweat through during the day. 

Jennifer and Jonathan home schooled their children for a year and alternated driving the SUV that followed them throughout the trip

Jennifer and Jonathan home schooled their children for a year and alternated driving the SUV that followed them throughout the trip

The family took pictures at each stop as they passed through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida

The family took pictures at each stop as they passed through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida

Jonathan Cobb had walked to walk across the country since he beat his own battle with canter in 2006, but the dream wasn't realized until his daughter died

Jonathan Cobb had walked to walk across the country since he beat his own battle with canter in 2006, but the dream wasn't realized until his daughter died

The children entered 'road school' and alternated time in the car while one of their parents drove and the other walked. 

They traveled through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida throughout the trip. 

When the Cobbs arrived in Disney World, they had a massive celebration in the place they last saw Julia alive. 

Now that the walk is finished, the Cobbs plan to build a 'Ju Castle' in Houston, to house about 500 families seeking medical treatment at hospitals in the area. 

They're currently still in the fundraising stage and are looking for 50 to 100 acres of land that would house the castle.   

'I cannot bring Julia back,' Jonathan Cobb said. 'I can only walk forward and change the future for another family or for my own family for that matter, and give them a foundation of hope from which to build upon.' 

Now that the walk is over, the family hopes to build "Ju Castle' in Houston to host families being treated at nearby hospitals

Now that the walk is over, the family hopes to build "Ju Castle' in Houston to host families being treated at nearby hospitals

When the Cobbs arrived in Disney World, they had a massive celebration in the place they last saw Julia alive

When the Cobbs arrived in Disney World, they had a massive celebration in the place they last saw Julia alive

Several Disney characters posed with the family and their supporterS when they reached the park on Father's Day, June 21

Several Disney characters posed with the family and their supporterS when they reached the park on Father's Day, June 21