Abergavenny shop manager Tracey Sutton has been awarded the Retail Award by the UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie, at its fourth annual Fundraising Excellence Awards ceremony.
The awards, which took place virtually on 17 November and were hosted by TV and radio broadcaster, Clive Anderson, recognises the hard work and dedication that many people give to Marie Curie across the country, helping to raise vital funds to provide care and support for people living with a terminal illness and their families.
Tracey, who usually manages the Abergavenny charity shop, was nominated for the award after going the extra mile to help bring additional income during an uncertain and turbulent 18 months.
With government restrictions and low volunteer numbers impacting the ability to trade, she stepped up and put herself forward to return from furlough early, allowing the Gloucester Road hub in Bristol to trade full hours. Despite this meaning a 3-hour driving each day, Tracey kept this up for several months to support the retail team.
Now Abergavenny is open again she is putting a colossal effort in to ensuring Abergavenny is trading full time. There have been severe staff shortages, but it hasn’t got Tracey down and she is working flat out, because as she says, ‘it’s all for Marie Curie’.
Retail district manager Neil Lias described Tracey as a “real asset” to the team and said it had been inspiritng to see her step up in a time of crisis.
Tracey said: “It is such an honour to be given this award for undertaking a job I feel privileged to do and working with such a giving and supportive volunteer team in Abergavenny.”
Marie Curie Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: “Our supporters are at the heart of what we do at Marie Curie and their dedication allows us to continue to provide much-needed care and support services to thousands of dying people across the country, and their families.
“On behalf of everyone at Marie Curie and myself, we are so grateful to Tracey who has has committed so much time and effort to supporting the charity. This award is a token of our gratitude for her outstanding achievement and we hope that it helps reinforce how much we value their contribution. Without her, we couldn’t continue to support people across the UK through all aspects of death, dying and bereavement.”
