On the 12th anniversary of the fateful day in 2013 when the 'Fast & Furious' franchise star's life was cut short in a car accident, Meadow Walker, the daughter of the late Paul Walker, paid a poignant tribute to her beloved father on Instagram. The model and philanthropist shared a series of heart-warming images, accompanied by a touching caption, that brought to life memories of her childhood with her dad.
"Twelve years without you…I love you forever," Meadow wrote, over pictures that captured a tender moment between Paul and a toddler-aged Meadow. In the images, Paul is seen kneeling before his little girl, who sits on a counter with a mischievous smile, looking up at her dad. In one picture, Paul holds a plate with a dessert adorned with candles, which Meadow considers before giving her dad a sweet peck on the lips.
Walker's sudden and tragic passing shook Hollywood to its core. The actor was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle when the driver, racing pro Roger Rodas, lost control of Walker's Porsche Carrera GT and struck a concrete lamp post in Santa Clarita, California. The car caught fire upon impact, and both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Paul had Meadow Rain Walker 15 years prior with his childhood sweetheart Rebecca Soteros. Although Walker and Soteros never tied the knot, they co-parented Meadow until the actor's untimely demise. "Every day I pick her up from school, and we go out on a longboard," Walker told PEOPLE in 2006. "She's the best partner I've ever had."
Meadow has paid tribute to her late father on the anniversary of his death in the past, taking the occasion in 2021 to fundraise for various charities that held a special place in Paul's heart during his lifetime, including Toys for Tots. "To honor my dad's legacy, we hope you'll join us to Do Good," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "From building schools to advocating for ocean conservancy and our annual scholarship, affecting positive change is at the heart of everything we do. We love and appreciate you."
Meadow's call to give back was not a one-off. Through the Paul Walker Foundation that Meadow established in 2015, she has kept her father's giving spirit alive by supporting initiatives benefitting wildlife conservation and ocean protection and awarding an annual scholarship to a student aspiring to dedicate their lives to such disciplines.
