OCTOBER 2015 | Local interest
TRACEY’S 500/50
CHALLENGE
W
hen it comes to challenges there’s one Henfield lady who has a bit of an addiction. Meet Tracey Prescott; serial fundraiser, fitness junkie and champion of great charities and local causes. When Tracey celebrated her 50th birthday back in April, she thought she’d like to mark the occasion with an extra-special challenge. Aided and abetted by her friend Adrian Hillman, she came up with a plan – to complete 500 miles in her 50th year. Each of those 500 miles must be part of an organised fundraising event, either on foot or by bike. So far, she’s completed 285 miles, and I’d bet almost all of them with a big grin on her face! She’s donned a cycle helmet to complete 184 miles by bike (the London to Brighton night bike ride, the Brighton mountain-biking Big Dog and the Prudential Surrey 100) and she’s run a Rat Race and a Tough Mudder with the associated ‘fun’ challenges of scramble nets, water obstacles and even electric shocks. Her most difficult event to date has been the Oxfam & Ghurka ‘Trail Walker’ – when she, along with two friends, walked 62 miles across the South Downs within an incredible 22 hours – the time limit was 30 hours. All these challenges raise money for great individual causes, but her target is to generate
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£2,500 for two causes close to her heart. One is the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, in memory of a dear friend, Gary Dunk, who lost his fight with cancer in January this year. Gary has inspired Tracey with his positive attitude that anything is possible with the support of friends. The other is Henfield Leisure Centre. Tracey is a great advocate of fitness for all and the team at HLC has helped to train her in advance of her various challenges. “The Leisure Centre is a brilliant place, everyone forgets they are actually a charity,” said Tracey. “It takes a huge amount of money to keep the equipment up to date and provide all the classes and children’s clubs – so they really need our support. They’re in the middle of their big renovation project to add a soft play area, a new studio and a café to the building. Exciting times!” Five years ago it was a different story. Tracey was struggling with back pain and told that she shouldn’t run. But with physio and a good personal trainer (her sister Sammy!) she managed to strengthen her back and enjoys a high level of fitness today. Back in 2012 she took part in ‘777’ – where a team of runners ran 7 marathons a day for seven days, in aid of Henfield Leisure Centre and Clic Sargent for childhood cancer. “Staying fit has really turned my life around. I’ve achieved things I’d never have thought possible and most of all made the most incredible friends. Anything is possible with the right people around you! I really do have Sammy to thank for all the motivation and help she’s given me,” said Tracey. If you’d like to help Tracey reach her target please go to www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/777fundraising If you’d like someone to do a challenge with, Tracey is always looking for people to run / walk / cycle with! tracey.prescott@hotmail.co.uk Emma Osman
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