Newquay beach owner’s Leukaemia journey marked by charity unicorn
The sculpture has arrived at its new home at Lusty Glaze, to raise awareness for Leukaemia Care
The owner of a beach in Newquay has marked a personal milestone in her Leukaemia battle by welcoming a unicorn titled 'Guardian of the Ocean' to her Cornish cove.
Having passed her 8th round of chemotherapy for Leukaemia, instead of following the tradition of ringing the End of Treatment Bell, Tracey Griffiths has chosen to support charity Leukaemia Care - in a bid to raise awareness for the disease that she has been fighting.
In an auction held in Bristol on October 5 2023, Tracey purchased a 2 meter tall unicorn sculpture for £3,400 which has now arrived at its new home at Lusty Glaze Beach to help shine a light on Leukaemia.
Tracey shares her journey with cancer treatment: "When I marked the halfway point in treatment and the last day of IV chemotherapy; 8 IV chemo sessions were done and 480 Oral Chemotherapy tablets were swallowed. But with another 480 to go, I didn’t feel like ringing the bell to celebrate was the right thing for me to do.
"Having been on a very long journey with Leukaemia, every time the bell rings, I feel a range of emotions, from delight for those that do and a deep anxiety and sadness for those who won’t ever have the strength.
"I decided not to ring the bell as I’m not entirely 'there'. For me, ringing the bell doesn’t mean our journeys are over, it simply marks the end of this phase of treatment."
Aligned with Tracey’s fighting spirit and love of the ocean, she decided to mark the milestone with something that could support the cause as a whole: "Instead of ringing the bell I wanted to do something that felt powerful, so this is what led to me buying the unicorn."
The unicorn was painted by contemporary artist Farrah Fortnam, whose work can be seen in prominent locations across the South West.
Farrah painted the 'Guardian of the Ocean' as part of Unicorn Fest 2023, a sculpture trail that included 60 painted unicorns located in and around Bristol for nine weeks, before being auctioned off to raise money for Leukaemia Care. Overall, the unicorns have raised more than £140,000 for the charity.
Leukaemia Care states: "Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer that affects people of all ages and 27 people receive a leukaemia diagnosis every day in the UK – that’s just under 10,000 every year."
Not only did Tracey select the unicorn from a photo a month before the auction without the knowledge of its name 'Guardian of the Ocean', she was also unaware the auction would take place on the evening of her last chemotherapy treatment.
Having now arrived down 133 steps to the Cornish cove, the team at Lusty Glaze Beach has welcomed its newest member. Through Tracey’s dedication and free spirit, she and her team have created the perfect home for the 'Guardian of the Ocean'.
With the goal of raising awareness for Leukaemia Care, Lusty Glaze welcomes visitors to take photos with the unicorn for social media, using the hashtag #LustyUnicornForLeukeumiaCare, as well as donating directly to the charity.
Tracey says: "The reason we wanted to bring the unicorn to live at Lusty Glaze is because it not only marks a personal journey for me, but we want people to view it, take photos and raise awareness and funds for this incredible charity.
"Leukaemia Care hugely helped me in the initial stages of my diagnosis, particularly putting me in touch with a mentor who supported me in understanding the journey ahead."
Nicole from Leukaemia Care says: "As a charity we are always extremely grateful for the money that people raise on our behalf as it enables us to continue to provide essential services. All money raised goes directly to help patients, and their families, allowing us to offer them all the advice, information, and support they need whilst facing a leukaemia diagnosis.
"The enthusiasm for Unicornfest and the money it raised for Leukaemia Care has been really wonderful and we are thrilled that all the unicorns have found new homes allowing them to continue to be enjoyed.
"We’re sure that 'Guardian of the Ocean' will enjoy its position at the seaside and welcome the visitors to the Lusty Glaze Beach."
Now in its permanent home at Lusty Glaze, visitors can find the unicorn in the main marquee - the place it will call home for the foreseeable future.
Tracey continued: "I’d like to say a huge thank you to my incredible family, friends and work family that have kept me going. You all know who you are. Without you, I could not have done this, without you, it would have been pointless anyway. Also a special mention to the team in the Haematology Unit, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and the Headland Unit."
"We have lots planned for our Guardian of the Ocean, who for now is on display in the marquee. Watch this space for some unicorn magic and help us share awareness for Leukaemia Care."