In 2013, Tracie Mills, the founder of Arden Angels was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and started the path of intense chemotherapy, following with a double mastectomy, all under the superb care of the Oncology and Breast Care teams based at the UHCW Hospital in Coventry and subsequently The Maple Unit at Rugby, St.Cross. Her dream started as raising £1000 for one new chemotherapy chair for the Arden Centre in Coventry where she had been receiving treatment, she wanted to give something back for the care and support she had received during such a difficult time and many friends and family jumped on board and for the past 6 years, Tracie has been spurring on the public, local businesses and anyone else who would listen, to help, support and fundraise for her charity and the kindness and generosity of our local community was second to none and this is where the Arden Angels became the ladies, gents and children in pink who could be seen everywhere and anywhere doing whatever they could to raise vital funds. Impressed by support, Tracie decided to further her target to £10,000, then it was £50,000 and as we stand today her target was £100,000, Tracie and the girls smashed this target with the massively successful "Strictly Pink" event in June 2023 and the new total currently stands at a staggering £130,000. Tracie refuses to raise her target, she says what has been raised is outstanding and every single penny we receive now is a bonus. Every single £1 matters and is received gratefully and will make a difference to the future of cancer patients and their care. She will make sure of it.

With a life expectancy of 5 years at initial diagnosis in 2013 we are thrilled to say with a fight, 11 yrs on she is still here, still pushing, still fighting and still nagging and although it has not been an easy path for her and the past year in particular, incredibly difficult. Tracie was told just before the COV-19 Pandemic that she was now terminal and in Palliative Care as the disease had returned and invaded muscles and the chest wall and most recently invaded her liver and lungs and with one viable chemotherapy left available to her, which she has now finished receiving at the new purpose built Maple Unit at Rugby St.Cross Hospital. Her last treatment was on 9th July, 2024. Tracie has no treatment options available through the NHS and has spent the past few months reaching out to Trial Units across the UK desperately trying to find something suitable and to willingly become a guinea pig to just give her more time. She may be hanging by a thread with a very poor life expectancy of less than 12 months. She is still determined and lives in hope of finding something suitable.

Arden Angels have been fortunate in being part of bringing Cancer Services to Rugby and in Autumn 2022 were able to donate £30,000 to bringing Breast Services back to Rugby for all in our community able to feel the benefit of both chemotherapy and breast clinic services and back in 2019 we were able to provide the Arden Centre at Coventry with not one but twenty plus chemotherapy chairs for patients at a cost of over £20,000.

Tracie and the Angels were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service in May 2024 and subsequently were nominated for the BBC "Make A Difference Award " during the summer.

Fundraising this year has included an inflatable 5k Fun Run by Julie Webster and friends, the annual and amazing Rugby Treasure Hunt, our monthly Bingo at The Webb and most recently we had "Sams Cookies" whereby people donated the price of a cookie in tribute an honour of our fallen angel "Sam Pooler". This raised an incredible £1600 across 48 hours. Our biggest fundraising amount event in just 48 hours. Sam was a massive part of Tracie's life over the past year they united in a unique friendship whilst fighting for their lives and supporting each other. Her loss has had a massive impact on all that knew her and will never be forgotten.

We have also said farewell to our very much loved landlords of our "Home of the Angels" Karen and Derek.

We will continue to fundraise and support in any way we can to support the community of Cancer Care in Rugby and Coventry.

We have next to none overheads and the support of people and local businesses in Rugby and Coventry carry us through and we are proud to say that every single penny raised goes direct into our fundraising pot held by UHCW Charity and we decide where every single penny goes and how it is spent.

Our intention is to run another "Strictly Pink" event in 2025, where 12 contestants take on the huge task of learning to dance with the support and kindness of Jackie Fallon, her family and her incredible team of experienced dancers from Your Time To Dance in Coventry. The night was spectacular in 2023, packed to the rafters and we raised a stupendous £23,000 during the 8 week period. The demand for a re-run is high. Please look out for news and recruitment on our FB page in the near future. We hope to repeat this event on a bi-annual basis.

Last but not least, in October this year Tracie will be presenting the "Tracie Mills Inspirational Fundraiser Award" at the UHCW prestigious OSCAs Award Ceremony. This award was renamed in tribute to Tracie for all her efforts over the past 6 years, an overwhelming achievement and honour to add to her list so far.

Tracie lives on in hope that the legacy of Arden Angels continues for many years to come and continues to help the future of Cancer in Rugby and Coventry long after she is gone.

Cancer is a devastating disease, not only for the patient but for the family and friends involved. It turns lives upside down and changes the patient dramatically, treatment is debilitating and this can have a huge impact on the patients loved ones, friends and family.

Tracie's final few words remain mainly unchanged "I am still here fighting the good fight, days are harder than before, life has a way of throwing you unbearable curve balls, they knock you down, the important thing is how you get back up. Arden Angels has never been and will never be a ME, it has always been a WE, their will never be enough words for me to thank you all, I am truly grateful and assure you I will go down fighting and continue with the tenacity and sheer determination that I always have."

If you have an idea for fundraising or would like to join the team of Pink Angels (Male/Female or Child) we will always welcome your support, please be sure to get in touch.

Thank you so much for your continued support and pennies and pounds donated, it means the world to us. It all makes a difference and will make changes now and in the future.

Nickie and Tracie

Please contact us

millsey@live.co.uk

nickie149@me.com or via our

Facebook Arden Angels to get involved or support.

ANGEL LOVE xx