At Ride the North, the rider who dons the number one is honoured for their significant charitable efforts. This year, Tracy was named as Rider #1 in a "clear and well-deserved" decision by the Ride the North team.
Our founder and chair, Tracy Johnstone, will proudly wear #1 for Ride the North 2024. Tracy's dedication to Charlie House has been unwavering since she established the charity in 2011. Her mission has always been to enhance the quality of life for babies, children, and young people in the North-east of Scotland who face life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, while also supporting their families.
In 2018, we launched the Big Build Appeal, aiming to construct a dedicated support centre in Aberdeen. This facility will eliminate the need for North-east families to travel over 100 miles for essential specialist care. Signing up for team Charlie House is just one of the many great ways to raise these vital funds to bring us even closer to our goal of constructing this dedicated support centre.
Reflecting on the event, Tracy shared:
“Ride the North holds a special place in the fundraising calendar for Charlie House and for both my husband, Craig, and me. We've always supported the event in any way we can, though our caring responsibilities for our youngest son, Louis, often prevented us from cycling or training sufficiently. Sadly, we lost Louis last November at just 15 years old. Despite his short life, he left a remarkable impact on everyone he met. It was an absolute privilege to be parents to such an amazing boy.
“Louis inspired the creation of Charlie House. This year, Craig and I will cycle Ride the North in memory of our gorgeous, cheeky boy. Wearing number 1 for him and raising funds for the Charlie House Big Build Appeal is a true honour. Whether you're a novice cyclist, a regular rider, or seeking a new challenge, Ride the North is a fantastic social cycling event. Fundraising for charity adds an extra layer of satisfaction, knowing you're making a difference in the North-east.”
Find out more about Ride the North here: Ride the North
You can also support Tracy’s Ride the North journey here: JustGiving - Tracy and Craig.
