Bacup mum’s brush with cancer sparks fund-raising crusade (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bacup mum’s brush with cancer sparks fund-raising crusade

4:42pm Wednesday 10th June 2009 in

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JENI BROWN was just 15 when her mother died of breast cancer.

“It all happened so fast,” said mother-of-two Jeni, now 29, of Nuttall Street, Bacup.

“Because my mother, Susan Brown, was so young — she was only 36 when she died — her early symptoms were missed and it was less than a year from start to finish. Of course, her death had a huge impact on me. It was difficult because at that age a girl really needs her mum.

“I got through it though and I always say ‘what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger’.”

But life dealt Jeni and her family another blow in October 2006 when her partner David’s mother, Carol Young, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Carol was diagnosed just after my eldest daughter Lexi was born and it was very hard to come to terms with after my own mum died because I initially expected it to be exactly the same,” said Jeni. “It was only after I had spoken to my dad about my fears that I realised that medicine had come a long way since mum died and that Carol stood a good chance of survival. I genuinely didn't realise how far on treatment had come until then.”

Thankfully Carol responded well to treatment and is currently in recovery.

But the ordeal made Jeni realise that she wanted to help make a difference to the lives of women suffering from breast cancer and she threw herself into fundraising for cancer charities, including The Genesis Appeal, a Manchester-based charity which raises funds and awareness for the prevention of breast cancer.

Jeni and her family now regularly participate in events to raise money for cancer research, including Race for Life and various other charity races and cycling events.

On Sunday Jeni and her friend Sharon Brownsell will be taking part in the 10k Keep Fit and Pink walk through Manchester city centre to raise money for the Genesis Appeal.

And Jeni is passionate about raising as much cash as possible for the cause.

“It was less than a year from when my mum was diagnosed to when she died, but it could have been different if it had been caught early,” said Jeni.

“Nowadays people in the same situation aren’t dying from it and that's all because research that has been carried out thanks to money raised by charities such as the Genesis Appeal. They’ve made it possible for people like Carol to go into recovery.”

Working towards finding a cure for breast cancer is, Jeni feels, the best way of ensuring a happy future for her daughters Lexi-Sue, two, and Oliva, seven months.

“After mum died I started checking my own breasts, but not too much because I didn't want to get paranoid about it,” said Jeni. “It was after the girls were born that I began to worry for the future because they have breast cancer in their genes on both sides and it is thought that between five and 10 per cent of all breast cancers are hereditary. That's why I want to do everything I can to raise money for the charities who help develop treatments. I try to get the girls involved too and they will be joining us on the walk wearing their pink deely boppers. I want them to understand what’s going on.”

As well as being a full-time mum, Jeni is training to be a counsellor.

“When my mother died, counselling was quite important to me and I’d like to help others in this way in the future," said Jeni. “My mother dying when I was 15 has shaped my life to a certain degree. It's certainly the reason I chose not to go straight back to work after having the girls because I know that this time with them is so precious.”

On Sunday Jeni and thousands of charity walkers will be joined by celebrities for the walk, which starts from Albert Square at noon.

“I’ll be painting one of my fingernails pink to represent the one-in-10 women who will have breast cancer in their lives,” said Jeni. “This walk is in memory of mum, in celebration of Carol and for the future of my girls.”