Tracy Haycox receives an MBE along with Bradley Wiggins

SAFE@LAST children’s services director Tracy Haycox posed with the newly-knighted Tour de France winner at Buckingham Palace last Wednesday.

“It was a great honour to receive my MBE from Her Majesty the Queen,” said Tracy, who was named in this year’s Birthday Honours list.

“She was very gracious and expressed an interest in the work of SAFE@LAST, wishing us every success for the future.”

Tracy (51), of Brinsworth, was joined on the special day in London by husband Richard, daughter Jade and son Thomas.

She said the accolade was a reflection of the Dinnington charity’s whole team, which strives to make a difference in the lives of young runaways.

Since joining SAFE@LAST in 2005, Tracy has been instrumental in expanding its missing persons scheme and opening the SAFEPLACE refuge — the only one of its kind in the UK.

Tracy — who manages a team of 16 staff — climbed Kilimanjaro last year with a team from the charity.

The trek followed her Olympic honour, carrying the torch during its ten-week tour ahead of the London games.

She was deputy chairman of the English Coalition for Runaway Children for two years and contributed to the Government’s Runaways Action Plan.

Tracy has also given support to local sport, notably rugby. She began playing at 34 — inspiring her son to train and her husband to become involved in coaching.

SAFE@LAST chairman of trustees Dan Dean said: “Tracy has been the heartbeat of our service delivery for many years.”