History of the Trust

About Tracy

Tracy in a school picture from St Egwin’s Middle School, Evesham, 1991

Tracy Sollis attended Prince Henry’s High School, Evesham, when at the age of 14yrs she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Tracy had led a healthy active life, enjoying horse riding, table tennis, playing tenor horn in the local brass band and representing her school in the hockey team as a much valued defender.

Tracy wanted to be a veterinary nurse.

This picture of Tracy with a young calf, was taken at the Cotswold Farm Park, the weekend before going into Birmingham Children’s Hospital to prepare for a bone-marrow transplant.

Tracy had been feeling unwell for sometime, before the diagnosis of leukaemia was made. The year was 1993 and Tracy’s only way of overcoming the disease was to have a bone marrow transplant. The odds of finding a suitable donor for Tracy were put at 50,000 to one so you can imagine the excitement when a donor at last was found. Tracy underwent her transplant in August 1994 and it was then a waiting game to see if the transplant had succeeded. It however became apparent that it had been rejected and after a brave fight, Tracy lost her brave battle on 21st February 1995.

Tracy had been a happy and very caring individual who had expressed extreme gratitude to the anonymous donor who had provided her with a chance of life. On hearing that her transplant had failed she immediately felt she had let her donor down.

Tracy’s ability to always put others first made a huge impact on all she came into contact with. She was concerned about the other children on the leukaemia ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she was treated. She was remembered to say, “We’ve got to stop this happening” and when asked how did she feel knowing she had the disease, responded with, “It’s helping me to help others” – Tracy 1995