A poignant festive tribute to a close friend has smashed a charity fundraising target just in time for Christmas.

Tracey Newman has worn a different Christmas jumper or Yuletide outfit for 43 days in the run-up to Christmas, initially hoping to raise £200 for The Kirkwood hospice after a close friend died there in June.

But she’s absolutely smashed her target with the fundraising now standing at well over £1,600.

Tracey’s friend, Anne-Marie Bell, of Meltham, had turned 43 just two days before she lost her battle with cancer at The Kirkwood which inspired Tracey to decide to wear Christmas garb for 43 days in her memory.

Tracey, 48, of Scissett, said: “Anne-Marie loved Christmas and would have found it really funny that I’ve gone everywhere in Christmas gear since the middle of November. I really stand out … especially before we got into December.”

 

 

 

 

Tracey is marrying her fiancé Mark Lloyd at Bagden Hall Hotel in Scissett on New Year’s Eve and went to see her wedding planner dressed as a Christmas cracker.

“She just looked at me and laughed,” said Tracey. “But then I think she began to worry that I wouldn’t be wearing a wedding dress on the big day but I assured her I was.”

In fact, she’s got her dress from the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice shop in Holmfirth which prides itself on its wedding collection.

Tracey was exceptionally close to her grandfather, Dennis Broadbent, of Honley, who insisted on buying Tracey her wedding dress but then sadly passed away in March aged 92.

 

 

Tracey, who runs with Holmfirth Harriers, bought many of the Christmas jumpers from The Kirkwood charity shops.

“Some are just horrendous,” she said. “I can’t believe people seriously bought them in the first place.”

Tracey is a self-employed dog walker under her business name Muddy Buddy and also helps out at Honley DIY and Pet Supplies where customers have chipped in £200.

 

 

Last year Tracey wore Christmas jumpers for a few days and raised £200 for the mental health charity Mind but this year her fundraising has rocketed.

“I suppose I’m pretty hard to miss when I’m out and about,” said Tracey, whose favourite dog walking spot is Magnum Quarry at Hade Edge. “When I realised I was going to smash the £200 target I changed it to £430 to get the number 43 in again. I can’t thank people enough for supporting me and also The Kirkwood for the wonderful work they do.

“Anne-Marie really benefited from the counselling she received there in her final days.”

Tracey also chose The Kirkwood because a friend’s brother is receiving care there.

She added: “The Kirkwood is here to support anyone affected by a life limiting illness, every step of the way. Right now, over 3,000 people in Kirklees are living with an illness from which they will not recover. Your support means The Kirkwood is here for them.”

To donate to Tracey’s JustGiving page go to Tracey Newman is fundraising for The Kirkwood (Kirkwood Hospice)

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.

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