Farewell to Rugby's charity champion Tracie Townsend-Mills, who helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity

Rugby's charity champion Tracie Townsend-Mills, who helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, has died.

Tracie became a huge inspiration to many when she turned her own cancer diagnosis into an epic fundraising drive for the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust charity, through her 'Arden Angels'.

Top: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust presented Tracie with a special 'thank you' for all her fundraising. Below, left: Celebrity Angela Rippon was a surprise guest at Tracie's Strictly Pink fundraiser in 2025 - and she said Tracie was a ‘light in this world’ (Photo: Steve Porter Photography).

placeholder image — Top: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust presented Tracie with a special 'thank you' for all her fundraising. Below, left: Celebrity Angela Rippon was a surprise guest at Tracie's Strictly Pink fundraiser in 2025 - and she said Tracie was a ‘light in this world’ (Photo: Steve Porter Photography).

Tracie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

Following intensive chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, she decided to raise £1,000 to buy a new chemotherapy chair for the Arden Centre at Coventry’s University Hospital to thank staff for the care and support she received during her treatment.

But with the support of family and friends - quickly joined by fellow Rugby residents and businesses - the fundraising drive raced beyond Tracie's original target, reaching over the £220,000 mark.

The Arden Angels bought 20 new chemotherapy chairs for the Arden Centre and helped open the Laurel Centre at Rugby's Hospital of St Cross, a specialist breast surgery care unit.

A full tribute piece to Tracie will follow.