Tracey takes the plunge (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Tracey takes the plunge

12:40pm Sunday 4th July 2010

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THORNCOMBE author Tracey Smith will be dusting off her wetsuit on July 3 and diving into the Royal Victoria Dock as part of this year’s Great London Swim.

Alongside thousands of other swimmers of all ages and abilities, she will swim a mile across the chilly River Thames to raise money for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

Tracey is a child of an alcohol-dependent parent and her earliest childhood memories are laced with images of her mother’s excessive drinking.

When her mother passed away on Tracey’s 40th birthday, she decided to do something positive with her difficult experiences.

Tracey said: “To have buried it all with mum would have been a terrible waste.

“Volunteering for NACOA as a proud Trustee gives my darkness a purpose.”

Over the past 20 years, NACOA has helped over 120,000 cries for help via their website and helpline. In 2009 they received around 36,000 calls from children as young as seven years old.

Last year, Tracey swam a mile across Lake Windermere in Cumbria and raised almost £1,000 for charity. This year, she hopes to exceed the total sponsorship and reduce her swim time of 77 minutes.

Tracey added: “NACOA survives on an absolute shoestring but the bills are rising.

I would love to raise enough money for them hire a permanent fund-raiser to keep the wolf from the door.”

If you would like to support Tracey visit justgiving.com/GreatLondonSwim to make a donation.

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