Crawley mum conquers fear for brain cancer charity abseil

Brain tumour research charity fundraisers abseiler Jody Blunt and Nicole Aitken-Smith - picture submitted

After a gloomy start, the chilly breeze died down and the sun came out, giving the perfect conditions for Jody Blunt’s charity abseil down the Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Gun Wharf Quays, a 300ft descent.

Having undertaken many challenges in her sporting life and fully supporting the work that Brain Tumour Research do, Jody from Langley Green, was up for the challenge – despite her fear of heights.

Jody has a close and personal connection to Brain Tumour Research and she shared her reasoning behind choosing to take on such a demanding challenge.

Jody Blunt from Pound Hill, Crawley, abseils down the Spinnaker Tower for Brain Tumour Research - picture submitted

She said: “Ruth, my (almost) sister-in-law has a brain tumour, it is under control but she is still suffering from seizures and has to be on medication for the rest of her life. Also, Jamie Flegg, one of my dad’s football students who also trained with me for a short while at Bootcamp, sadly lost his battle aged just 16.”

On May 14, watched by her husband, two-year-old son, Ruth and wider family and friends, Jody fought past her fear and faced the challenge she vows never to do again, quite a statement from someone who has competed in gruelling events such as Half Ironman in Challenge Weymouth amongst many others.

Jody has raised £695 so far for the charity and was delighted to have her feet back on terra firma having completed the descent.

As proud supporters of Brain Tumour Research, employees of Crawley web services and digital marketing company Netkandi Ltd, were there to support her in this as with other challenges she has undertaken.

The company is also sponsoring Pound Hill resident Nicole Aitken-Smith in her bid to become Miss Brighton next month.

Nicole shares their passion for brain cancer charity fundraising.

She is hosting multiple cake sales and other fundraising events to help raise funds for Amanda’s Angels – a fundraising group who has raised over £37,000 so far for research into brain cancer.

Managing director of Netkandi Chris Minn said: “It’s great to support such an under publicised but vital charity. 16,000 are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year yet just one per cent of national cancer research funds is spent on it in the UK.

“With up to 40 per cent of all cancers spreading to the brain, we all should be supporting such a worthwhile cause.”