News

14/02/07 The family and friends of Jackie Jennings are pleased to report that she is now back home from Boston and doing well.  The treatment was completed satisfactorily by the end of January.  She will however, have to wait approximately 3 months to have a further scan at the QE hospital, Birmingham which will we hope confirm that the tumour has been successfully treated.  We are all very optomistic of course.  Jackie wishes to thank everybody so very much, including without doubt The Massachusetts Hospital and its' staff, together with Stephen Farmer who looked after her and her visiting family so well during her 2 month stay.
08/01/07 Robert Plant with the Honeydrippers and special guests Mike Sanchez and The Big Town Play Boys ar to play JB's, Dudley, 14th February.
08/01/07 Due to the tremendous support and successful fundraising it now looks very likely that the Jackie Jennings Appeal will have excess funds (over and above the amount needed to assist Jackie as far as we can be aware at this point in time.   However, funds will always be available should this change)  in which case provided all who supported the Appeal are in agreement it is intended that these additional funds will be transferred to the Proton Effect Trust and will support and assist other local worthwhile cancer causes.
08/01/07 Thank you to everyone who supported the Queens Head Sports & Social Boxing day football match. It was a fun morning and we raised £130 which was donated to the appeal.
08/01/07 Well done Nicky and John who undertook a 7 hour sponsored walk along the Severn Valley Steam Train line,  just catching the last train back in time for a well earned pint of Bathams!  They raised a massive £503, and wish to express their thanks to all who sponsored them.
Message from Jackie - 05/12/06 "everything going well here in Boston.  Have had two treatments so far (as of 1st December).  Dr Liebsch is very reassuring.  I also wish to thank Prof. Stephen Farmer (Jackie is currently a house guest of Prof. Farmer until her family arrive prior to Christmas) - he has been golden and takes me to and from the hospital everyday and waits for me.  He has also observed the treatment being administered and helps put my mind at rest afterwards.  I feel really comfortable at present."
05/12/06 The Whole lotta DC and Superreal Gig at the Tap House, Kidderminster on the 24th was a great success. A big thanks to the bands, Andy, Dave and Laura, not forgetting the staff and friends that helped make it a great night. All in all the Tap House are donating £365 which includes donations made on the night, raffle ticket money and a generous percentage of the bar takings. nice one guys
27/11/06 Auction was great - £5,884 raised by means of auction lots/raffle/entrance/Irish bingo.  A really good night.
27/11/06 The Whole lotta DC and Superreal Gig at the Tap House, Kidderminster on the 24th was a great success. A big thanks to the bands, Andy, Dave and Laura, not forgetting the staff and friends that helped make it a great night. A full total is not yet known but will be updated ASAP.
22/11/06 Friends and family of Jackie met at the Queens Head to bid her a fond farewell as she leaves for Boston Friday 24th to begin her treatment.  Everyone wished her the very best and look forward to seeing her at the end of January, 2007.  Once again she expressed her heartfelt thanks to all who have helped with the Appeal and wished everyone the best of luck with future fundraising events.
20/11/06 Izzy the Push played at the Queens Head on the 18th November.  £400 was raised for the Appeal
Special thanks to re-aqua of Hagley who have pledged a top to toe well-being session just for Jackie on her return from Proton beam treatment from re-aqua of Hagley 01562 886516
08/11/06 Stalks gig at Jacksons went really well.  All in all a grand total of £1,773.60 was made by means of  ticket sales, raffle and the auction of 2 x Town Hall tickets, (generously donated by Dana Andrews, the Licensee) realising £500
23/10/06 - Notice Whilst I am extremely happy to confirm that all the tickets for the concert on the 23rd December at the Town Hall have been sold (this is what we wanted afterall) I am aware that many people were disappointed having queued prior to the Box Office opening.  Naturally we are very sorry for those who did not secure  a ticket but given the status of the musicians and bands playing on the night, it was inevitable that the concert would be very popular.  In an effort to keep it 'local' we chose the Town Hall as the venue and therefore tickets were always going to be very limited." Jo Hill, Appeal Coordinator
20/10/06 Town Hall sold out of tickets yesterday for the23rd December Gig within minutes apparently.
20/10/06 Izzy The Push have anounced they are playing at the Queens Head on 18th November, with all proceeds going to The JJA
20/10/06 Sons of Beaches recently played The Sutton Arms, and raised £132 for JJA
20/10/06 A big thank you to the Bewdley Lip Reading group who held luncheon and raised £75 forJJA
18/10/06 The Ripps gig was a great success, the band really entertained their audience and ticket sales/'bucket' raised £378.
14/10/06 Dave Onions played at The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge acoustic everning last week and raised by means of donations a whopping £445 - all to the JJA.
09/10/06 Slowburner and The Stubble Brothers played at the Queens Head. Great night with a total of £850 raised for the Appeal
09/10/06 The Memorial Hall have kindly agreed to donate 25% of their car boot income from the next sale on 21st October.
02/10/06 Local band The Ripps are donating all their takings from a gig they are playing at the Unity Inn pub, Park Street, Saturday 14th October.  Tickets just £3 and it starts at 8pm.  Huge thanks to them
02/10/06 Dave Onions is playing at The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge on the 5th October. Along side Dave will be the exciting duo Dave & Remi. Dave will be asking for donations on the night to help the appeal. Many thanks to them.
	(c) Ken Regan
18/09/06 Our first sponsor! Many thanks to Phipps and Pritchard who will be the official sponsor for the Town Hall concert.
	(c) Brian Smith

Press Coverage

Rock legend ends Jackie's life fight

Thursday 28th September 2006
Kidderminster Shuttle

ROCK legend, Robert Plant has joined forces with a host of Wyre Forest musicians to help raise funds for a Kidderminster woman's life-saving treatment.

Three concerts, including one headlined by the former Led Zeppelin frontman, have been organised in aid of Jackie Jennings, who is battling a rare tumour at the base of her skull.
» Full Article

Star Plant’s plea to help friend

Friday, September 25th, 2006
The Express and Star

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant today made a heartfelt appeal to help save a Kidderminster mother with a life-threatening tumour in the base of her skull.
Jackie Jennings faces a race against time to raise £25,000 to pay for pioneering beam therapy in Boston she hopes will save her life.

The 41-year-old, of Hurcott, has secured £75,000 from Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust but must find the remainder of the cash herself.

Plant, a personal friend, today held a press conference at Kidderminster Town Hall to appeal for help in raising the money.

Plant and fellow musician Mike Sanchez have offered to hold a fundraising concert at Kidderminster Town Hall on December 23.

Plant said today: “I was just very glad to be part of a community effort to raise the money to send Jackie for this treatment.”

Rock star’s mercy gig

By Sol Buckner
Friday, September 22nd, 2006
The Express and Star

Rock legend Robert Plant is backing a fundraising campaign to raise £25,000 in three months to save the life of a Kidderminster mother suffering from a brain tumour.

The former Led Zeppelin frontman, who lives near Shatterford, was so moved by the plight of his 41-year-old friend Jackie Jennings that he decided to stage a Christmas concert in the town.
» Full Article

Beaming in on a deadly disease

Once the stuff of science fiction, charged particle beams are being used in the fight against cancer

Michael Pollitt
Thursday August 10, 2006
The Guardian

In the past, Karen Kirkby didn't think about people with cancer. The physicist, at the University of Surrey's Ion Beam Centre, likes to work with beams of charged sub-atomic particles like protons that travel at millions of miles an hour.
» Full Article