Latest news with #Brainstrust
STV News
01-05-2025
- STV News
Woman fulfilling wife's dream to walk UK coastline reaches halfway point
A woman walking 5,000 miles around the UK coast in memory of her wife has reached the halfway point. Tracey Howe and Angela White met each other whilst working in a hospital in Sunderland. The pair spent 37 years of their lives together, having been married for nine of those years. The couple moved to Bearsden nearly two decades ago where they continued to raise their sons Will, and Dan. Angela was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and plasma cells, and Amyloidosis, a rare condition linked with blood cancer. Six months later in September 2023, Angela passed away aged 58. Tracey set off from the Beatson in Glasgow on November 1, 2024, to walk the coastline, a trip she dreamed of making with her wife in a motorhome after retirement. Angela and Tracey dreamed of travelling the UK coastline after retirement The journey has taken Tracey all the way to Lands End and now she is making her way back north. Despite the many different cities, towns and landmarks visited during the trip, the fundraiser believes the kindness people has been the real highlight of the journey. Tracey told STV News: 'People are being so generous with their time and donating. 'People have let me stay in their houses, fed me and done my laundry. Every time I meet someone I give them one of the crocheted hearts and it opens up the conversation. 'Often people shed a tear about not just my story but theirs as well.' Tracey has been gifting strangers crocheted hearts. The whole experience has given the 60-year-old, who has received support from Olympic Gold medallist Tom Daly, a completely new perspective on life. Tracey said: 'I used to be a planner and this really is forcing me to live in the moment. 'I need to enjoy everything and soak up the whole day. 'I'm focusing on just being.' The journey itself hasn't been easy, with the walker hit with wind and rain on some days, however, the memory of her wife has driven her forward. Tracey has seen many landmarks on her long journey. The mum-of-two said: 'I talk to her everyday. 'I imagine her being with me and encouraging me. 'When I'm having a tough day and the terrain and elements are against me I call on her strength to give me a push.' The former professor of rehabilitation sciences has set herself the target of raising £100,000 for five different charities including Brainstrust, Marie Curie and Beatson Cancer Charity. Tracey, who will turn 61 during the trek, is also raising funds for Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. To follow Tracey's Trek on social media click here. To donate to Tracey's Trek click here. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Widow halfway through 5,000-mile charity challenge
A widow walking 5,000 miles (8,047km) around the British coastline in memory of her late wife has reached the halfway mark in Kent. Tracey Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, started her challenge from her home city in November and plans to finish there on 31 October. Ms Howe, who is currently walking through Kent, hopes to raise £100,000 to be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel. "It's easy to live for tomorrow, but we need to make the most of each day," she said. The mother-of-two, who lost her wife Angela to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition had been an opportunity for her to process her grief. Ms Howe, 61, added: "When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief. "I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time. "Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill." Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles (32km) a day, six days a week, has already raised more than £30,000. Additional reporting from PA Media. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Cancer survivor to run 120-mile ultramarathon Man who played guitar during surgery raises funds Paddleboarder in 300km cancer fundraising venture Beatson Cancer Charity Marie Curie Braintrust Breast Cancer Now CoppaFeel
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Widow Tracey Howe hits halfway mark in charity challenge in Kent
A widow walking 5,000 miles (8,047km) around the British coastline in memory of her late wife has reached the halfway mark in Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, started her challenge from her home city in November and plans to finish there on 31 Howe, who is currently walking through Kent, hopes to raise £100,000 to be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel."It's easy to live for tomorrow, but we need to make the most of each day," she said. The mother-of-two, who lost her wife Angela to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition had been an opportunity for her to process her Howe, 61, added: "When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief."I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time."Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill." Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles (32km) a day, six days a week, has already raised more than £30,000. Additional reporting from PA Media.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Widow halfway through ‘healing' 5,000-mile British coastline charity challenge
Ms Howe, 61, is also giving out 5,000 crocheted hearts along her walk to strangers to remind people of those they have loved and lost. The mother-of-two started her coastline challenge from Glasgow last November and aims to finish there on October 31 2025. Tracey Howe with her late wife Angela who passed away in 2023 (Tracey Howe/PA) Ms Howe, who lost her wife Angela of 37 years to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition has been an opportunity for her to process her grief. 'When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief,' Ms Howe told the PA news agency. 'I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time. 'Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill.' Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles per day six days a week, hopes to raise £100,000, which will be split between five charities – Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel. She said she has been encouraged by the support she has received so far, including from Olympian Tom Daley, who crocheted several pink hearts for her to 'encourage more people to talk about their grief'. Ms Howe lost her wife Angela to blood cancer, which she developed after recovering from an operation removing a benign tumour. 'I've spent a lot of time talking in my head trying to get a sense of what happened,' she said. 'It was a long, long journey and very complicated with different things. 'We never really had time to process the brain tumour before we were into blood cancer and one thing and another. 'There's a lot of processing to do, and so I feel like I've had space and time to do that, because 99% of the time I'm on my own.' A map showing how far Tracey Howe has covered already (Tracey Howe/PA) Ms Howe, who has already covered 2,500 miles, hitting a number of significant landmarks including Land's End and Lizard Point, said she has learned to enjoy living in the moment. 'What I've learned is that I am now enjoying living in the moment, soaking everything up. It's easy to live for tomorrow but we need to make the most of each day,' she said 'I'm much more relaxed about changing plans if things go wrong or not to plan. 'The worst has happened so everything is now more in perspective. 'I encourage everyone who is grieving to take the first step out into the world – it's truly a healing place.' Ms Howe is currently walking through Kent and plans to spend the summer walking up the east coast of the UK in Norfolk and Yorkshire before heading to Scotland for the last leg of her journey. To learn more about Ms Howe's coastal challenge you can visit her fundraising page at:
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Widow halfway through ‘healing' 5,000-mile British coastline charity challenge
A widow walking 5,000 miles around the British coastline in memory of her late wife said she is 'enjoying living in the moment' as she passed the halfway mark of her challenge. Tracey Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, has faced various challenges, including injuries and weather conditions, while covering the west and south coast of the country. Ms Howe, 61, is also giving out 5,000 crocheted hearts along her walk to strangers to remind people of those they have loved and lost. The mother-of-two started her coastline challenge from Glasgow last November and aims to finish there on October 31 2025. Ms Howe, who lost her wife Angela of 37 years to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition has been an opportunity for her to process her grief. 'When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief,' Ms Howe told the PA news agency. 'I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time. 'Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill.' Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles per day six days a week, hopes to raise £100,000, which will be split between five charities – Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel. She said she has been encouraged by the support she has received so far, including from Olympian Tom Daley, who crocheted several pink hearts for her to 'encourage more people to talk about their grief'. Ms Howe lost her wife Angela to blood cancer, which she developed after recovering from an operation removing a benign tumour. 'I've spent a lot of time talking in my head trying to get a sense of what happened,' she said. 'It was a long, long journey and very complicated with different things. 'We never really had time to process the brain tumour before we were into blood cancer and one thing and another. 'There's a lot of processing to do, and so I feel like I've had space and time to do that, because 99% of the time I'm on my own.' Ms Howe, who has already covered 2,500 miles, hitting a number of significant landmarks including Land's End and Lizard Point, said she has learned to enjoy living in the moment. 'What I've learned is that I am now enjoying living in the moment, soaking everything up. It's easy to live for tomorrow but we need to make the most of each day,' she said 'I'm much more relaxed about changing plans if things go wrong or not to plan. 'The worst has happened so everything is now more in perspective. 'I encourage everyone who is grieving to take the first step out into the world – it's truly a healing place.' Ms Howe is currently walking through Kent and plans to spend the summer walking up the east coast of the UK in Norfolk and Yorkshire before heading to Scotland for the last leg of her journey. To learn more about Ms Howe's coastal challenge you can visit her fundraising page at:
