Rock legend ends Jackie's life fight

11:26am Thursday 28th September 2006

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.

Mrs Jennings, who lives in Hurcott with her husband Paul and 10-year-old daughter Nicole, hopes to travel to Boston, USA in November for Proton Beam Therapy.

It has a 95 per cent success rate in killing the cancer, known as a Chondrosarcoma, and is only available in the USA, Japan and South Africa.

Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust has already pledged £75,000 to help pay for the treatment, which is expected to cost around £95,000 but the 41-year-old now needs to find the rest herself.

Friends and family have generated £6,000 towards the shortfall and, as part of the fund-raising campaign, Plant, who has been friends with her for 20 years, will join Mike Sanchez to play at Kidderminster Town Hall with his band The Return of the Honeydrippers in December.

Plant said: "We were aware that Jackie had a problem and mortified the fourth strongest economy in the world was not able to offer medical support and so, along with a lot of other events, the community decided to put its back and shoulders to the wheel and do something. I think we are all very glad to be able to help in some way."

He added: "It is about people being pro-active in the community. The smallest gestures, which may seem insignificant, are just as important as me and Mike doing what we do."

Mrs Jennings, who was first diagnosed three years ago and will be treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital, said: "I am very grateful to everybody, particularly, Robert and Mike, who are giving their time, and everyone else involved."

The first of the three concerts will be held at the Queen's Head in Wolverley next Saturday and will feature Slowburner and guests including The Stubble Brothers.

On Saturday, November 11, The Stalks, Sons of Beaches and Sounds by Pigstyle will play at Jacksons in Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster. Tickets for both gigs are available from the venues.

The town hall gig will be held on Saturday, December 23 and also performing will be funk-soul group Shark Attack, Harriets Initials, Edgeway and Sounds of Pigstyle.

For further information about the campaign and tickets log on to www.jackiejennings.co.uk