Rose goes on sale in memory of brave Blackwell teen

Buy photos » Steve and Kay Jones with the Teenage Spirit Rose at Homebase in Redditch. (s)

A SPECIAL pink rose has gone on sale to honour a brave Bromsgrove teenager who tragically lost her battle with cancer.

The Teenage Spirit Rose was created in 2005 after Jennifer Jones from Blackwell passed away at the age of 19.

All proceeds from sales of the flower will go towards her chosen charity, the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Jennifer was first diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma - a cancerous tumour of the muscle - when she was 14.

For a year she recieved intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy to combat the disease which was very aggressive. However, her treatment was made more difficult because she was placed in a children's ward because she was 14. Having no people her own age to talk to she felt even more isolated and alone.

When the disease returned following a three year remission Jennifer was this time treated in a teenage ward. And even though she ultimately lost her battle, her confidence and hopes were raised by been able to talk to people her own age in a more relaxing environment.

Therefore in her final days Jennifer vowed to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust to prevent more teenage patients suffering extra distress on a children's ward. Her parents Kay and Steve Jones have worked hard to make her wish a reality and created the flower in honour of Jennifer's love of pink roses.

Kay said: "For family and friends, the pink rose has come to personify Jennifer.

"It is so fitting that a rose in her memory can raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust - a cause that she was so passionate about."

Homebase is the first retailer to sell the Teenage Spirit Rose. The company is the offical partner of Teenage Cancer Trust and has raised £1.5million for charity. This money will go towards providing 22 teenage cancer units to 20 locations in the UK and Ireland.

The Teenage Spirit Rose is available for £9.99 and can be purchased in Homebase stores and online at www.teenagecancertrustshop.org

Regional news »