AN INSPIRATIONAL Evesham woman who set up a charity in memory of her daughter to help fight leukaemia has been awarded this year’s Evesham Town Council Civic Award.
Sue Sollis, who founded the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust, was presented with the prestigious award at the Town Hall on Monday (May 8) and said she was ‘honoured, privileged and humbled’ to receive the award.
Sue turned her efforts to fund-raising after her daughter Tracy lost her brave battle against myeloid leukaemia in 1995 at the age of just 15.
Her first triumph was to launch the Tracy Sollis Laboratory Appeal as Sue set the huge target of raising £100,000 to fund a research laboratory.
With help and support from kind-hearted fundraisers, Sue achieved her target and the laboratory, which was dedicated to Tracy, was officially opened by HRH the Duchess of Kent in May 1996 at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Following her initial success, Sue then officially registered the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust and for the past 22 years the charity’s main aim has been promoting and assisting in the prevention and relief of sickness, suffering and distress of those afflicted with leukaemia.
Speaking to the Observer, Sue said: “I’m very honoured and privileged and humbled. It’s been amazing and I like to think this is received on behalf of Tracy and everyone who supported the trust and the work of the trust over the years.
“I never thought I’d been doing the sort of work I’m doing now and it’s just evolved.
“It was basically through my daughter, who always through her life supported and helped others and that was her main goal to help others.”
The charity now has two shops, both of which are stocked entirely by donations, and Sue added they are always on the look out for more donations and volunteers.
Visit www.tracysollistrust.org/contactus for more information.
