Jennifer has three children, Adam, Ambar and Sami and lives in Llanelli, South Wales having moved from London in 2001. She works for the NHS as a Community Paediatric Physiotherapist. This is an extremely rewarding job and working part time allows her to have time for the family.

She enjoys running and competing for Llanellli Amateur Athletic Club. Her highpoint in 2006 was to become British Masters Champion at 1,500m in the 40+ age category. She is also the Welsh Masters Champion at this distance and at 800m in the same category. She also competes at cross country and in road races.

In September 2002 she abseiled from the top of the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff in aid of cystic fibrosis. Here is how she described it in an email:

Well, I have survived to tell the abseiling tale although my nerves will take some time to recover!!!!! I had a sleepless night last night, after the event, re-living the day in my mind over and over again.

The afternoon began well. Ambar, Sami and Ambar's friend settled down with their picnic in the front row of the stadium and I registered my presence. Adam had a tantrum just before leaving and I had to leave him at home! After much waiting around we were put into a harnesses and strapped up tightly by a royal marine, they were in charge of the running of the event, managing to get 400 people down ropes in one day. When I say strapped tightly my straps were yanked so hard I was lifted off the floor!

A group of 8 of us including a Physio I work with, were led up to the sixth floor, then to the back of the stands and up a series of ladders onto gangplanks beneath the roof. These were constructed of metal grids underfoot and railings at the side such that if you looked down as you walked you could see the turf far below. This was enough to unnerve some of the group I was with and I began to feel quite confident about the abseil ahead. At this point I was able to lean over the side barrier and wave to the children far below who were following my route.

We then arrived at the designated gangplank that had 5 ropes hanging from it with a marine at the top and another at the bottom. I was roped in, given instructions for a few seconds and told that ‘a picture tells a thousand words’ and that I should climb over the 3ft barrier. No problem I thought, but it was as I was going over the top and told to tread on a large metal tube, diameter about 50cm, at an angle of 30 degrees, with no grip that I began to worry. It was part of the structure of the roof canopy. Someone came to talk to him and he told me a to wait a minute while he spoke - THANKS A LOT! The marine then started to explain how to control the speed of descent and where to place my other hand - on my head he said as it was not needed, The thought of putting that hand on my head was unimaginable as I was almost dangling 40 metres above hard ground. I next had to straighten my legs and walk down, and around the pipe, below which it would be freefall abseiling. The worst part of all was deciding when to take my legs off the pipe , at which point I swung underneath it to begin my descent. But there was no going back, my heart was beating at probably double speed, my mobile started ringing and vibrating in my pocket - why hadn’t I turned it off? but all I could do was continue on my way down. I had been given gloves and the friction between them and the controlling rope was so great I found it difficult to go very fast and I could also feel the tug of the safety rope that the marine was letting out. Ambar and Sami were shouting at me and I tried to look in their direction but didn’t have the courage to release the hand that could have been on my head to wave at them, it was fixed on firmly to the control rope. I slowly made my way down and after being released from the ropes went over to talk to the children to try to calm down a little before climbing back up for the zipline.

The zipline was much more fun. It also involved a climb into the roof supports and climbing over the barrier, but this time to sit on horizontal piece of scaffolding that had been specifically attached for the purpose, but it seemed tame in comparison to the beginning of the abseil. With the ropes already attached to my harness I merely had to lean forwards and I was off, zipping down the whole length of the pitch with two Marines at the bottom to ensure I stopped before hitting the ground. That I could do again, but I do not intend doing any more freefall abseiling again. If my legs had something to push against perhaps I might but if not.................

I gathered the children and headed back to the car sporting my Cystic Fibrosis T Shirt (sponsored by Smirnoff!) and clutching, although still with the adrenalin rushing, my certificate! It was now 3.15 pm but some time before I felt like eating my lunch.

Oh our return home I noticed smoke billowing from beyond our back hedge. A running inspection through the gap at the back showed a recently started ‘bush fire’ being blown and spread by the wind. I ran back to the house and called the fire brigade who took only a little longer than their target of 8 minutes to arrive. A couple of beaters soon put it out but in the time it took them to come it had spread vigorously, but they stopped it before it reached any ones property. I would have panicked more if the wind had been blowing in my direction! The children, mine and all the locals thought it all great fun and Sami enjoyed the fire engine. Now stories abound as to who started it and the boys who yesterday owned up to it have apparently changed their tune today, probably for fear of repercussions.

Thankyou for helping me to raise £250.00 for the Cystic Fibrosis trust.

Return to Family page or Home page or meet my children.