Hartlepool fundraiser's birthday bucket list for charity

A Hartlepool fundraiser has taken on 40 challenges to raise funds for a motor neurone disease charity in memory of her grandmother.
Tracy Skinner with friend Christina Gillies at the top of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.Tracy Skinner with friend Christina Gillies at the top of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.
Tracy Skinner with friend Christina Gillies at the top of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

When Tracy Skinner turned 40 last August, she decided to embark on a birthday bucket list compiling of 40 challenges to mark her 40th year, in the hope of raising vital cash for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Now at the end of her challenge after turning 41 on August 27, Miss Skinner explained: “I lost my step-grandmother Joan Nicholson to the disease five years ago when she was just 75, so when I turned 40 last year I wanted to do something in her memory.
“I decided to take on 40 challenges over the course of the year to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association along the way.”
She added: “In that time I have done various 5k and 10k races, half marathons and obstacle courses.

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“I have really enjoyed it and it has been great to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

Miss Skinner, who is on the management team at Newbury Racecourse after moving to West Sussex from Owton Manor in Hartlepool a few years ago, said she hoped the challenges would raise around £1,000 for the charity and is delighted to have surpassed this amount.

Her adventurous year has seen her climb Ben Nevis in Scotland and Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, abseil off the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, trek Hadrian’s Wall and complete a colour run. Other events include a Hartlepool 5k run and a Sunderland 10k run.

She also came back to her home town earlier this month to take part in a charity walk with her friends and family from the Pot House Cafe along the promenade to the Headland, raising £360.

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She added: “I have really enjoyed it and it has been nice to do so many different things for charity.
“I have had a lot of support from friends and family who have done some of the challenges with me which has been great.”

To donate to Miss Skinner’s cause visit: www.justgiving.com/tracy-a-skinner