The aim of The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust is to relieve sickness, suffering and distress of those diagnosed with leukaemia and similar blood related disorders. The Trust achieves this by providing complementary therapy for patients, purchasing laboratory equipment for life saving research and inviting Grant applications for patients experiencing financial difficulty.
The Board of Trustees as it stands ending December 2025
Mrs Debbie Edmondson - Co. Chairperson
Mr Glenn Robinson - Co Chairperson
Mrs Vivien Bentley - Vice Chairperson
Mrs Gillian Gregg - Trustee
Mrs Susan Sollis BEM - Founder Member and Trustee
Margueritte Bailey - Trustee/Minute Taker
Trustee Changes During 2025
In Memory
Our Chairperson, Mrs Marion Bratt fought a hard but short battle against cancer and tragically passed away at the beginning of the year. Marion is very much missed by us all and will always be remembered for her happy and friendly personality.
Trustee Appointment Mr Peter Goodall was welcomed to the Trustee Board on 23/6/25 and has already shown that he is a great asset regarding any DIY jobs needed to be carried out.
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AGM The Trust’s AGM was held on Monday 19[th] May 2025 at Wallace House, Evesham with refreshments provided. There was a good turnout with approximately 40 people in attendance. A power point presentation was made by The Trust’s Founder Member Sue Sollis who spoke mainly about the benefits of Vein Finders being donated to Hospitals and G.P. Surgeries by The Trust.
Many leukaemia patients and their immediate family suffer from financial hardship following diagnosis resulting in a change of circumstances.
The Trust continues to assist by awarding Grants normally of £350.00. There were just 2 applications made during the year with a need to make more patients aware of this availability.
The Grant may be used for hospital travelling costs, extra home heating costs or anything else that enhances the care and wellbeing of the patient.
Grant application Forms are available at The Trust’s shop and headquarters Library Arcade, 62, High Street, Evesham, WR11 4HG or may be downloaded from the website www.tracysollistrust.org. All applications require validation and a signature from the patients G.P, Consultant or a CNS.
The Trust continues to provide complementary therapy to patients on Worcester Royal Hospital Laurel 3 Ward. Complementary Therapist Carrie-Ann Adams is funded by The Trust and is highly valued as she has a special understanding of leukaemia. Carrie was a former leukaemia patient who underwent a successful bone marrow transplant. Being experienced in this field Carrie can fully relate to a patient’s concerns and worries. Not only does she provide Complementary Therapy but also a listening ear. This can make such a difference as nursing staff have very little time to spend with patients.
During the year of 2025 the total of patients seen by Carrie was 235 with an expenditure of £7,460.00.
Patients have also the availability to receive therapy outside the hospital environment. This is provided by our second Complementary Therapist Debbie Humphries. There were a total of 6 visits costing a total of £210.00 as an extra therapist who would fulfil this need. There were 6 visits outside a hospital environment made with the overall cost of £210.00
For many patients and nursing staff alike, trying to locate a vein can be a distressing and difficult event. The Accuvein is an advanced piece of equipment which can make a tremendous difference to the procedure with the first purchase by the Trust made in 2021. This was delivered to Worcester Royal hospital. The highly positive feedback from Worcester Hospital led to a huge project undertaken.
In the year of 2025 The Trust supplied three at a total grand cost of £14,600.00 These were purchased and delivered to the University of Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, Grey Gables Surgery, Inkberrow and De Montford Surgery, Evesham.
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. It was a difficult year regarding deliveries and collections. Long term volunteer Andrew Bailey had assisted me with deliveries and collections for over twenty years, and it was a huge blow when he felt it was time to retire. A huge thank you to Andrew for being a much valued and dependable member of the team. Andrew you are very much missed by us all.
Halfway through the year my health suffered a severe setback which made me unable to drive for six months. A stand in voluntary driver was urgently needed to which an appeal on Facebook. Thankfully, and despite a heavy workload, local plumber Dean Gibson volunteered. He was brilliant and managed to help not only with local collections but also to deliver donated Vein Finders to as far afield as Coventry.
Shop Income
There had previously been two Tracy Sollis Charity shops in the Library Arcade namely Shop 5 and Shop 7. It was. In 2024 that Shop 5 was flooded due to a burst pipe situated in the overhead premises. It resulted in a £17,000 estimated loss disputed by the insurance company and to add to this set back we also received an increase in rent. It was therefore decided to continue trading from one shop only and close shop 5 at the end of 2024.
Shop 7 income for 2025 amounted £68,046.16.
It was finally, and after a lengthy battle with the insurance company that we received £10,641.50 in compensation from the previous year’s incident. This makes a combined total of £78,687.66
The claim amount received was purely due a long and dedicated battle with the insurance broker by our Chairman Mr Glenn Robinson. We are extremely grateful to Glenn his perseverance with this extremely difficult undertaking.
The Trust intends to continue providing Vein Finders for the medical profession as they make such a huge difference towards enhancing the treatment and care of patients. We also wish to continue providing complementary therapy for patients and grants for those in need.
Summary
On the plus side we have made remarkable progress with our Vein Finder project and been able to continue providing Complementary Therapy for patients both inside and outside a hospital environment.
There are big decisions to be made for the forthcoming year. We need to rebuild with new ideas increase the income and reduce overhead expenditure.
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Activities 2025
Play for Poppy Event £500.00
(The Beard Family and Evesham Rugby Club)
Henrician Theatre Ticket Sales £162.00
Formula 1 (Fleece Inn) £303.50
Bretforton Show £350.00 Bretforton Show Car Park £111.93
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Event of The Year
Sheldon Bosley Knight -Three Peaks Challenge
It was a great surprise when we received the wonderful news that Sheldon Bosley Knight had nominated The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust as its Charity of The Year.2025.
Raised £5,415.00
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A big thank you to ~ The Trustees, the Shop Volunteers, and Everyone who has shown their support throughout the Year.
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