A daredevil challenge inspired by a teenager who lost her battle with cancer will raise cash to support others with the disease.
Jennifer Wilson, 17, died in March 2010, two and a half years after she was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the Bell Baxter High pupil’s death, her brother Chris and sister Joanne have announced they will undertake a bungee jump to raise funds for children’s hospice charity CHAS.
The family, from Cupar, is aiming to make hundreds of pounds for the group, which runs the Rachel House Hospice at Kinross.
Joanne said: “As this year marks the fifth anniversary of Jennifer passing away, my brother Chris and I decided that we wanted to do something in our sister’s memory while raising funds for an amazing charity that means so much to us as a family.”
Joanne said Rachel House was very close to the family’s hearts.
Once Jennifer found out that she did not have long to live, she started planning her own arrangements.
“Jennifer chose Rachel House Hospice as the place she would like to go before we laid her to rest and I am so glad that she did the hospice is truly amazing,” Joanne said.
“Unfortunately, our time left with Jennifer was cut short and she never had the opportunity to visit Rachel House before she passed away but, from the moment of Jennifer’s passing, the staff did everything they could to take some of the pain and stress away from what was the hardest week of our life.”
She added: “Even after the funeral, CHAS has offered us support when we needed it and have been extremely welcoming when we have returned for visits. We owe a lot of thanks to them.”
Jennifer and Chris will jump at the Highland Fling Bungee on March 7, the day after the anniversary of their sister’s death. They have set up a website to collect donations at www.justgiving.com/jcjumpforjennifer
Joanne said the family’s world “crumbled” when Jennifer lost her battle for life surrounded by her family at Ninewells Hospital.
She had been due to attend the X Factor Live tour later that week. Instead, finalist Lucie Jones dedicated a song to her.
Jennifer was diagnosed with a cancer type so rare that only 100 people have it.
In 2007, doctors found what they thought was a cyst.
After it was discovered to be malignant, she underwent an operation to remove an ovary and her fallopian tube and had six months of chemotherapy.
In April 2008 she was given the all clear, but the family’s joy was short-lived when doctors discovered a cancerous tumour on her abdomen.
During her final months she endured gruelling chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant but was also able to accomplish some of her dreams, including taking part in a fashion shoot, visiting Disneyland Paris, and a helicopter flight over Dundee.
At her funeral, mourners were encouraged to dress in her favourite colour, pink.