Cancer Research donates signed Latics shirt to boost Wiganer's fund-raising

Jean Hensey-Reynard battled cancer in 2017 and is now three years cancer free. Since her diagnosis, she has been expressing her gratitude by regularly raising money and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

Most recently, Jean and her Labradoodle puppy Lottie spent three weeks walking across the borough in a bid to raise cash for both Cancer Research UK and Paws For The Cure, a breast cancer awareness organisation.

She landed on the idea of walking every day for 21 consecutive days, in various locations across the borough - a challenge which has raised more than £600 and counting.

Jean said: “I feel that, when I had my diagnosis at the end of 2017, and all my treatment going through 2018, I must have been benefitting from cancer research and money raised by people who had done things like Race For Life, bake-offs etc.

“Now that I have recovered and I am better, I think it’s my turn to give back to help new research and new drugs that will help people who will sadly get this disease in the future.”

And Jean’s efforts have caught the attention of bosses at Cancer Research UK, who were so impressed that they named her “Patient of the fortnight” in their newsletter, sharing her story to donors, charity bosses and regional coordinators.

In the letter, the charity thanked Jean for her brilliant efforts, and even shared the amusing tale of how she had to finish one of her walks early, when an excited Lottie accidentally knocked her over.

The fall left Jean with an injury to her arm which required a trip to A&E! Fortunately, her injuries were minor and she was able to return to her walking challenge the next day.

And in a bid to boost Jean’s fund-raising tally, the charity even donated a signed Wigan Athletic shirt to be auctioned off.

A note included with the generous gift, written by Cancer Research UK’s North West co-ordinator Jo Moss, said; “A huge thank you from us all here at Cancer Research UK for your amazing continued support. We are thrilled that the Wigan Athletic shirt will help boost your fund-raising.”

Jean is now thinking hard about how best to raise money with the shirt, such as either raffling it off or putting it up for auction, where eager collectors can fight it out among themselves to bag the shirt.

Donations can still be made to Jean’s fund-raising page at www.fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/jeans-jewels-2020.

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