A woman living with five brain tumours has launched an advent sea swim as part of her year-long fundraising campaign to help find a cure.
Jenny Weller braved the waves on Sunday to take part in the ‘Big Dip’. Along with around 20 fellow dippers, she waded into the bracing sea at Hove in East Sussex to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research and ALK Positive UK. The challenge formed part of a year-long fundraising campaign called WellerFest, which Jenny launched to mark her one year ‘cancerversary’.
From 1st to 24th December, the WellerFest team will be doing an Advent Dip and is encouraging others to dip any day in December at any location and share their photos on the WellerFest Facebook page.
Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex, Jenny said she was “a little bit apprehensive” but hoped that the cold weather would “make people dig a bit deeper”. Listen to Jenny’s full interview here (from 2:13:00).
Personal trainer Jenny developed a persistent cough in December 2019, which she put down to stress and, later, COVID-19. The following year she began to experience other symptoms including headaches and swelling in her neck. After suffering a seizure at home in August 2020, Jenny found out she had five brain tumours, in addition to tumours in her lung, neck and pelvis.
Having kickstarted its fundraising with an abseil down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, the WellerFest team is planning a number of events next year, including a John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle and a Mount Snowdon climb. You can follow their progress on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wellerfest
To support the WellerFest Advent Dip with a donation, please click here.