04/02/2023
Jenna was born in 1980 and was raised in a little town called Romsey, in Hampshire. She was brought up in a close family by her mother and father, with her brother and sister. She attended the local primary and comprehensive schools, where she excelled. Around the age of 16 she was taken on as a model by Storm Model Agency, in London. Jenna modelled for a couple of years around the world before changing careers.
Jenna went on to work for Carnival as a cruise consultant, a job that she loved. In 2021 she received her 20 years’ service award. Jenna had 2 boys whom she adored and doted on, they are now 18 and 13.
At the age of 39 Jenna noticed a small amount of blood in her stools, she visited the doctor who very quickly sent her for a colonoscopy, this is where they found that a polyp had turned cancerous. After more tests and scans, Jenna was given the devastating news that her cancerous tumour had also spread to her liver. The disease was incurable and inoperable, the only treatment was palliative care to control the disease. Jenna started chemotherapy almost straight away, but sadly her disease was so aggressive that the treatment only worked for a short time. Sadly, on April 10th 2021 Jenna passed away with all her family by her side in the Hampshire Mountbatten Hospice. She had fought such a courageous battle for 16 months.
Jenna was the niece of Jane Scarth, her mother’s sister who also succumbed to cancer in 1994. Her family worked tirelessly to raise money locally to assist in the opening of 'Jane Scarth House', a cancer drop in centre. This centre still provides a valuable service in the area 26 years later and is run by local volunteers.
Now Jenna’s family and close friends have started the Jenna Marie Foundation (never too young). The aim of the Foundation is to raise awareness of bowel cancer in younger people.
The Foundation will be donating all money raised to,
Bowel Cancer UK/ Never Too Young
Mountbatten Hampshire Hospice
Jane Scarth House
The Foundation’s first charitable event took place on Sunday 29th August 2021 at Romsey Town football club. The family rounders day involved a rounders tournament between 10 teams, plus a tombola, BBQ, raffle, cake stall, bottle stall, face painting and Romsey Old Cadets Show Band. £7k was raised by local attendees.
In November 2021 the Foundation hosted ‘The Jenna Marie Never Too Young Snow Ball’, a whopping £15K was raised at this evening, through a raffle and auction.
As a family our main aim is to raise awareness in people that you can never be too young to get bowel cancer. If we can save anyone at all from going through what Jenna and her family had to endure it will be well worth the effort put in by all.
It is very important that we get this message about bowel cancer across,
" if we can save just one life, we will have achieved our aim"
