On the face of it Jenny Green is a very ordinary woman. Married to husband Malcolm she is the mother of five grown up children and a grandmother seven times over who looks younger than her 60 years, lives life to the full and likes nothing better than spending time with her family and friends. Born and brought up on a farm in coastal Essex, UK, Jenny followed her father and grandfather into sailing as a young child. She went on to race competitively in the International Cadet, Blackwater Sprite One Design, International Fireball dinghy and International Dragon Keelboat. She's also a keen hiker and Mountain biker. She definitely has a mischievous and adventurous streak
Until 2008 Jenny's story was quite an ordinary one, but then she began to experience health problems and in 2009 Jenny was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), known in the USA as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease and in France as Sclerose Laterale Amyotrophique (SLA) or Charcot Maladie. Suddenly her life was changed for ever.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing This form of the disease is characterised by weakness and wasting in the limbs. Average life expectancy is from two to five years from onset of symptoms. You can find out more about MDN at www.mndassociation.org (UK) or www.ars- asso.com (France).
Jenny is by nature a very positive person and whilst she knows that this disease will gradually and relentlessly shut down her ability to control her body and ultimately cause her death, she is absolutely determined to live life to the full for as long asshe possibly can and to do something positive to help future sufferers of this terrible disease by raising funds to support MND research.
Although no longer able to sail in small dinghies Jenny is still able to race in her International Dragon Keelboat and so her first fund raising activity for MND will be undertaken using this boat.
Whilst Jenny is determined to continue sailing as long as she can the effort needed for her to move on/off/around the boat and helm is now immense and makes every race a marathon of physical endurance and mental stamina. That makes Jenny's choice of the prestigious Regattes Royales, held in Cannes in September 2010, as her first fund raising venture all the more remarkable as this international regatta will feature five long and arduous days of intense competition against around 60 of the world's top sailors. Click here to find out more about Jenny's plans to race in Regates Royales.
As well as the usual Sponsorship opportunities (Sponsor Jenny) there will be an exclusive dining opportunity aboard the luxury 54ft sailing yacht Persuasion hosted by Jenny’s life long friend Julia McKay
Jenny also plans to complete other challenges and adventures to raise funds for MND research and details of these will be published shortly or see Jenny’s Web site for latest information.
