A woman overcame her fear of heights to raise money for a hospital charity.

Tracey Holden, 36, from Blackburn, walked up and down the 235ft Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach despite being “terrified’’ of heights and raised £160 for Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, the official charity of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She decided to beat her biggest fear in an effort to thank staff at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital for the way they looked after her dad, Ian Marsdin, 72, had two stents fitted in 2016.

Tracey, a teaching assistant, said: “My dad was treated in the hospital’s cardiac centre last year and had two stents fitted. He had such fantastic care that I wanted to be able to repay them in some way.

“I am absolutely terrified of heights but I saw that you could walk up the Big One for charity and knew it would be a good challenge.

“The only way I would do it was if I was raising money for a good cause and this was definitely one of those.’’

Ann Hedley, Interim Head of Fundraising for Blue Skies, said: ‘I think that not only Tracey but the whole of her family are amazing!

“You only get one dad and their reaction to this trauma and his recovery is remarkable; and this isn’t the end of their efforts. They have already asked me to keep them informed of any other fundraising events that we are arranging so we hope to be meeting up again in the not too distant future.’’




Blue Skies Hospitals Fund fundraises to support and enhance treatment provided by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Blue Skies aim to make the experience and care of patients, their families and friends as comfortable as possible by providing enhanced facilities and equipment.

The award-winning Trust operates across a large area spanning Lancashire and South Cumbria. Their staff support a population of 1.6 million and Blue Skies fundraise alongside and with them, as well as in the community to support those extras that make a difference for patients.

Your generosity can make a huge difference to the community and to the people who provide the care, research and holistic support that they deserve.