A LOCAL woman took on the Bristol Half Marathon last weekend to raise funds for charity in memory of her late brother, Sid Doel, a popular Melksham man, who died last year.
Tracy Smith took part in the 13.1-mile challenge on Sunday 19th May, to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK as her older brother, Mick Doel, has Parkinson’s. She completed it in just over three hours and said it was a ‘very emotional day’.
“It was a very hot day and at mile 10, I started throwing up everywhere, so I wasn’t too good,” said Tracy. “I did enjoy the course so I was quite surprised.”
Tracy has raised over £1,000 for Parkinson’s UK, exceeding her initial target of £600. She says it’s been ‘out of this world’ to raise this total.
“I have had so much support from my family. My husband has been brilliant; my younger brother has been my chief sponsor collector,” says Tracy. “He’s been going around telling everyone I am running in memory of Sid. All the family have supported me, joined in and helped me raise my money.
“Sid was someone that would do anything for anybody. He didn’t like the attention being turned round on him. He was lovely.”
Tracy completed the half marathon alongside another fellow Forest Fitness runner saying, “I couldn’t have done it without my running buddy, Tracy Lewis, who was absolutely fantastic. She is trying to persuade me to do it again next year – give it a week and I might do!”
To support Tracy visit her Just Giving link https://www.justgiving.com/page/tracy-smith-1708980148722
