A FORMER Coventry Carnival Queen has been named as a Platinum champion for her dedication to volunteering.
Tracey McAtamney founded the Surviving Bereavement foundation in memory of her late husband Tony, who died suddenly after collapsing in his hotel room on a golfing holiday.
Tracey was widowed at just 38-years-old with two sons, but in 2019, 15 years after Tony died Tracey started new ventures helping others to overcome loss.
Her Surviving Bereavement Foundation offers legal advice and practical help as well as offering a new series of bereavement cafes in areas such as Leamington, Kenilworth and Berkswell.
Tracey also hand delivers bespoke memory boxes for grieving children and young adults that contains forget me-not-seeds, cuddle bears a personalised book and letter and more.
The boxes have been in high demand which has led to Tracey needing to scale up.
She will soon be launching a community interest business where she will be working with hospitals and hospices.
She also published her own book Hidden Strength in 2019 and is a qualified grief counsellor.
Tracey is one of 490 Platinum champions, with the awards launched by the Royal Voluntary Service to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and honour volunteers.
She said: “I am honoured and delighted to be recognised in this way.
“I thought memory boxes were really important to offer some comfort, but when I looked into it there was nowhere that actually gave them away for free, so I thought I would set it up myself.
“I do cherish the importance of memories as you can lose people but you can’t lose memories.
“Since Tony’s death, I have had to rely on that inner strength to get me and the boys through situations that have seemed impossible.
“Death has not defined us as a family, however it has truly shaped us as people.”
