If you're feeling sorry for yourself

[alesoun]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2889260/Jennifer-Wilson-chose-gown-shed-wear-in-coffin-as-she-planned-funeral.html

This is still raw and painful for me to talk about. We lost the vivacious and beautiful daughter of my cousin last month, to a very rare form of ovarian cancer. She wanted to go to art college and pursue a career in art. She was buried the day before Mother's Day over here.

It would have been her 18th birthday today. Her fight is over now, but for many it's just beginning.

I'm gong to ask you, in Jenni's memory, to toss a coin in a collecting box for the cancer charity of your choice any and every single time that life pisses you off.

I'll never know if you do; but you will, and it's a positive way to strike back at ill fortune.

How's about it, guys?

[Sepulverture]

Wait a second Ale, this is your Jenni? I feel you here, and you know why.

Condolences to you and the rest of your family, especially your cousin.

[Flake]

Sorry to hear that Al.

My condolences to you and her family.

17 is way, way too young.

[karma militia]

Shit, that's heartbreaking.

My thoughts are with her family, I hope they are coping OK.

[Armonah]

I'm so sorry to hear that someone close to you died. At such an early age, too. My condoleances, Alesoun.

[ArtZealot]

Thats really sad. Even sadder that it was someone close to u. Sorry for your loss.

[alesoun]

Thanks for the thoughts, people. My cousin and his wife have dealt with this with so much love and grace that I am completely in awe of them. I have no idea where they found the strength.

£3000 was raised at Jenni's funeral and was divided between 5 cancer charities. At her graveside, 18 pink helium balloons were released. One for each year of her life, and the last one was a star-shaped balloon. They're still in my mind's eye, floating free over the hills toward the sea.

I'm hoping that we can make a covenant on here, that any time life kicks you. or pisses you off, that you'll throw a small coin in a cancer charity collection bowl; even just a penny, and think that you're helping to kick cancer for Jenni, and for all the Jennis and Johns under threat of it.

Go get it!