An inspirational gran from Bath who is walking around the British Isles in an epic hiking charity challenge has arrived in Largs.
Tracey Hannam hopes her tale can inspire others to do great things as she challenges herself to walk the entire UK coastline to raise money for the RNLI and mental health charity MIND.
Last night, she visited the Magnus the Viking monument, and she is heading over to the Isle of Cumbrae today.
Tracey has been inspired to break free after she ‘lost everything’ during Covid, including her job at the RSPCA. She also split with her partner of seven years.
As a mum of three and a grandmother of eight, she originally had a dream of travelling to America to see her grandchildren but that hope was shattered by the pandemic .
Tracey Hannam arriving in Largs last night with Millport next on her itinerary (Image: Newsquest)
Tracey decided to give half her redundancy to her youngest daughter in Sheffield then bought her walking kit to embark on her epic walking challenge. Her tent is nicknamed 'Aggie' and her Facebook site is called Tracey and Aggie's epic trip around the UK Coastline.
She says the coastline is her ‘happy place’ after she underwent abuse and trauma after losing her mum to suicide at a young age.
Tracey, 57, said: “The coastline comforted me. I used to wish from the age of seven to 11 that I was a mermaid so I could swim away and never be hurt again.
“I walked my first year for mental health charity MIND but after the RNLI helped me and made me welcome by every station I had passed that first year, I made the decision to swap to the RNLI and it has been incredible. They are an absolutely awesome charity."
Tracey has now walked an incredible 9,000 miles of her 12.000 miles, and even had to overcome a broken ankle in her challenge.
She arrived in Largs last night, and was all set to camp when somebody spotted her online blog and offered her accommodation to stay for the night in town.
She was sitting in Moka cafe in Largs on Tuesday morning chatting to the locals including magician and charity fundraiser David Ennis.
Tracey visited Moka Cafe in Largs this morning and greeted locals. (Image: David Ennis)
Tracey said: "I am now heading to walk around the Isle of Cumbrae.
"Last night I got here at 10pm and had plans to camp out but I was contacted by a lovely woman who offered me a place to stay for the night and we had so much to talk about and it was really good to chat.
"It has been a whirlwind adventure for me. I have been a volunteer at foodbanks and delivering food, and have been giving talks to primary schools about my challenge.
"I now want to head up to Aberdeen and then onwards to the Outer Hebrides."
(Image: David Ennis)
She told the News that she was blown away by the warm welcome she has received in Largs, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset upon her arrival.
She described it on her blog as 'an incredible evening' and said she will continue to be strong and urged others to believe in themselves.
Tracey told her followers: "There are going to be good times and bad times but there's always hope and rainbow or sunshine or even if it rains, just dance in it get your hair wet and be happy you're alive."
She added she was greatly looking forward to her trip to the Isle of Cumbrae today, after falling in love with the island during a recent visit, and said she would be heading to the Fintry Bay Cafe.
Tracey has raised over £10,000 for the RNLI so far in her challenge, you can support her with a donation here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tracey-Hannam1?fbclid=IwAR1ShRUJIfeTWvg1F7fUN7WR3lfh8V4_UGp4TbsEcs9fSN9nMSA7mLht7rE
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