Glittering prize for Sue as her efforts raising £1m recognised - The Evesham Observer

Glittering prize for Sue as her efforts raising £1m recognised

Evesham Editorial 10th Dec, 2019   0

AN EVESHAM charity chief was recognised for her efforts in raising more than £1million for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan at a glittering awards ceremony.

Sue Sollis of the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust, was honoured at the Tower of London last Thursday (November 28) after the charity was awarded the Organisational Fundraiser of the Year Award at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards 2019 hosted by comedian Nish Kumar.

Over the past 23 years, Sue has raised nearly £1.2million for Anthony Nolan in memory of her daughter Tracy.

Tracy Sollis attended Prince Henry’s High School when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 1993 aged just 14 years old.




Sue was told the only way she would survive was to have a bone marrow transplant. A donor was found and Tracy underwent her transplant in November 1994. The transplant was unsuccessful and Tracy sadly passed away in February 1995.

Ever since Sue has dedicated her life to raising awareness and funds for Anthony Nolan. This year the Trust will fund £34,000 of research equipment. Sue has not only raised awareness by giving public talks but also set up two charity shops.


“It was a very special evening and it was also brilliant that I was permitted to take along five guests to accompany me. I didn’t know we had won until it was formally announced on stage, it was a very emotional moment,” she said,

“Each year a group of volunteers and I visit the Anthony Nolan Research Laboratories. On every visit we have been overwhelmed by the wonderful work carried out by Professor Alejandro Madrigal and his dedicated research team.

“During these visits it is a great opportunity to catch up and hear about the advances made in the areas of research. We can also see the equipment we have donated being put to good use.

“One of the highlights of raising funds for Anthony Nolan was way back in 1996 when one of the laboratories was officially opened by HRH The Duchess of Kent and dedicated in memory of Tracy after an appeal to raise £100,000 within the Evesham community.”

Sue has also been honoured with the award of the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services.

“I will always remember Tracy’s response when during a radio interview she was asked how she felt knowing she had the disease. Tracy’s words were ‘it’s helping me to help others’.

Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust is a hugely deserving winner of this award; their incredible support and passion for our work is a fantastic example of our charity, which is built on making lifesaving connections.

“It’s a wonderful legacy for Tracy and I continue to find myself inspired and humbled by the dedication and strength of supporters like them.”

“By raising vital funds and raising much needed awareness, we are curing blood cancer together. We can give families hope and give more people a future. But without supporters like Sue, lives can’t be saved. Without them, there is no cure.”

Visit www.anthonynolan.org/awards for more.

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