York woman completes Way of the Roses cycling challenge

Tracey Spellacy, who works as a deputy store manager at M&S Vangarde in York, completed the Way of the Roses cycling challenge as part of a fundraising effort for a mental health charity.

Cycling from Morecambe to Bridlington on Sunday, August 18 – and covering 167 miles – Tracey completed the challenge in 10 hours and 26 minutes, joined by three friends and a support vehicle stocked up with snacks.

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VIP guest Percy Pig also made an appearance at the finishing line to celebrate Tracey’s achievement.

Speaking from the finish line, Tracey said: “I am so incredibly proud – and slightly relieved – to have finished.

“It’s been tough training six days a week since June, clocking up over 300 miles a week by commuting to work and riding on my days off but it has been such an achievement and was so worth it to cross that finish line.

“The scenery on the route was breath-taking and what really got me through was thinking about my two children and YoungMinds, which is such an incredible cause.

“I couldn’t have done it without my incredible girl gang who joined me along the way, my partner and support vehicle driver Jonny and my ever loyal mascot, my dog Lenny!

The team midway through their challenge (Image: Provided)

“And of course, it wouldn’t of been complete without Percy showing up to celebrate too. To have raised £1,500 is amazing and I’m already thinking about what challenge might be next!”

The challenge is part of M&S’s ‘Big Fun-raiser’ for charity partner YoungMinds. Some 350 M&S stores are taking part in the challenge and aiming to raise £5 million over the next three years to support young people’s mental health.

Research commissioned last year by M&S and Young Minds found that despite struggling with their mental health, 65 per cent of young people hadn’t asked for any kind of formal support – 33 per cent of those said they felt too embarrassed.

At the finish line! (Image: Provided)

Laura Bunt, chief executive of YoungMinds, said: “Life is increasingly tough for young people and record numbers are in need of support for their mental health.

“When they’re able to access the help they need, things can get better, but the wait for support is often too long or the right support isn’t available. Together with M&S, we want to show young people that together we can turn things around.

“The incredible fundraising efforts of Tracey and the whole team at M&S will help us reach and support more young people and the adults in their lives.”