So who is Jen and what did Penny Brohn do for her?

With 75% of our financial donations going to Penny Brohn Cancer Care in memory of our friend Jen, we thought that we should explain who she is and why we care so much about the people who helped her so much during her toughest time.

Waaaaay back when, September 1993 to be precise, I was fortunate enough to be put in the same class as Jennie Pays, Naomi Lynch and Claire Humphreys. Despite some very different interests, we all became friends and soon the lovely Jo Harding and “Boffin” Jonny Weaver joined in.

Over the years, we might not of have the pleasure of seeing each other every day, but we were still always there for one another providing cheers in the good times and hugs in the tougher times. Jen was always there with her beautiful smile and big hug to go with her wicked sense of humour and love of life. Always the 1^st one to get up and dance, whether on the dancefloor or just round the kitchen, she always found a way to enjoy life.

Her positive outlook meant that when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2013, she told us that she was going to fight it with everything she had. She also told us about this fantastic charity who were providing her with lots of support and advice about how she could change things to best support her cancer treatment. Throughout her treatment Penny Brohn provided motivation for Jen and with the incredible support of her husband Andy and her children Rebecca and William, she was able to outlive all the predictions made by her doctors. Unfortunately, this couldn’t go on forever and Jen passed away last December, with Andy by her side and that beautiful smile on her face.

Penny Brohn Cancer Care helped give Jen some precious time with her children, so we wanted to help them continue to provide support to people with cancer. That’s why we’re taking on this 1,100 mile challenge, to say thank you…

We're not writing this to make you sad, but to start to convey the legacy that Jen left in our lives as her friends, and the inspiration she was to many others through being an Ambassador for Penny Brohn.  Jen did this because she wanted to give something back, which is typical of her.  She continues to motivate those that knew her, and one lasting legacy is the driving force behind this bloody bike ride: we must live life whilst we can.  We intend to, and we also intend to make some money whilst we do it for some great causes.  

I’m not the best with words, but fortunately I have a friend who is, and these were the words that the wonderful Jon penned for Jen in the days before she died (with a little assistance from the musical Wicked and a certain D. Parton):

It's often said, that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something that we must learn,

And we are drawn to those who would help us most to grow, if we let them, and if we help them in return.

I don't know if that is really true, but I know we're who we are today, because we know you.

A lot can change in 20 years, fashions come and go.

We've certainly had our moments when we've all stolen the show.

We've loved and lost, turned and tossed, we've laughed and danced and cried.

We've moved it on up, and pushed it on, we've shaken it from side to side.

If anyone's wanted to be our lover, they've had to get with our friends.

If anyone's ever messed with us, they've been made to make amends.

When the brown stuff's hit the fan for us, there's always been support.

When we've experienced the highs we've earned in life, pride has never run short.

Hakuna Matata is easily said, but slightly harder done.

But in having each other, be it near or far, it's been easy being strong.

We've slapped on the lippy, let down our hair, and put mascara on,

We've pushed up our boobs, strapped on our heels - and mostly that's just Jon!

We’ve thrown up spaghetti, we've talked about boys, we've learned and grown and won.

We've shared quiet hugs, and we've made a huge noise, and Wang it, have we had fun!

We've walked in the rain, and climbed over hills, we've learned to flirt and flounce,

We've talked complete nonsense, for hours on end, but that's what really counts.

When it's rained you've helped us see the rainbow, when it's dark, you've shown us stars.

When it's felt like the earth has shifted under us, you've helped us move to Mars.

You've done all that without even trying, the photos here attest.

So to you we say, we do not doubt that we have all been blessed.

So, we don't know, just quite how, any of our stories end,

But we do know all our stories have been rewritten, because you are our friend.

So to you we say, stay strong, keep going, keep fighting all the way

And we'll be here, supporting you, and loving you our way.

It might not be much, it might be old hat, it might be helpful. Just.

But we are family. And you've shown us what's possible, when we've got all our sisters with us!!