Cash will go to hospice which cared for Jenna
10:10am Sunday 12th February 2012 in News
BEFORE she died, Steve Jones promised his friend Jenna Wharton that he would swim the English Channel to raise money for the hospice that helped care for her.
The 32-year-old had hoped that Jenna, who died from cervical cancer last January, would be cheering him on — but says her memory will push him to complete the challenge.
“I made the promise to Jenna, we thought she would be here to see it to be honest.
“I promised her that I would do something crazy for St Ann’s Hospice — which I am!” Mr Jones said.
Jenna, from Walkden, was 25 when she died last January.
The office administrator’s mum, Diane Wharton, a district nurse, said she would always be grateful to the hospice for helping Jenna.
“The hospice is a place that no-one ever wants to go but they were there for us when we needed them.
“Jenna was only 24 when she went in and she was frightened because she was a quiet gentle girl and they were so good to her.
“I really am pleased Steve is doing this, I think it is absolutely fantastic and he has worked so hard to do it,”
she added.
Mr Jones, from Worsley, will tackle the 22-mile adventure in August to raise more than £6,000 for St Ann’s Hospice.
It will be the biggest distance he has ever swum and the former water polo player, who works for Chubb Security, said he is nervous but it would be worth it.
“She was a true fighter, friend and an inspiration to us all “Jenna’s strength and courage was amazing and St Ann’s made her life, as much as was possible, a lot better.
“It’s a fantastic charity and I’d love to raise as much as I can to help other patients,” he said.
For more information or to sponsor Mr Jones visit swimforjenna.co.uk
