A FUNERAL Director was cheered across the finishing line by her husband after completing an Ironman challenge to raise funds for a local hospice.

Tracey Rimmer, who works at Mason’s Funeral Directors in Hartlepool and Speckman’s in Wingate, both part of Dignity Funerals, swapped her top hat for running shoes to take on the Ironman challenge in Austria.

On completing the challenge Mrs Rimmer, who took part in the challenge with her husband said: “I thought I would be really emotional crossing the line, but I was smiling from ear to ear. I was buzzing the whole way down the final stretch, the noise from the crowd was incredible.”

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The Austrian Ironman course is a true demonstration of sporting prowess, with participants first completing a 3.8 km lake swim, followed by a 180.2 km bike ride and finally a 42.2 km run, all to be completed in under 17 hours.

Mrs Rimmer trained morning and night six days a week starting back in December 2019 right up until the competition in September.

Mrs Rimmer managed to smash the competition target of 17 hours, going through the finish line at 15hrs 19mins.

The challenge marked the culmination of fundraising efforts for The Alice House Hospice, the only adult hospice in the Hartlepool and East Durham areas. Alice House Hospice works to ensure that people affected by a life limiting illness or death of a loved one receive the care, comfort and support they need.

Mrs Rimmer added: “I’ve seen the work that the Alice House Hospice do first-hand, and it’s incredible, I just wanted to give something back to them when they give so much to others.”

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Janice Forbes, Community Fundraiser at The Alice House Hospice added: “Well done to Tracey on such an amazing achievement – what a true Warrior! I hope that supporting local patients and families was a good motivator throughout training and the incredible challenge itself. Massive thanks from everyone at Alice House and thanks also to all of Tracey’s sponsors and everyone at Mason’s Funeral Service for their wonderful and ongoing support."

So far she has raised over £900, her just fundraising page is still open at: justgiving.com/Tracey-Warrior2 .

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