First anniversary of death of much-loved Burgess Hill personal trainer

Personal trainer Jen Weller, who died a year ago after developing 14 brain tumours within 18 months

Tomorrow (May 25) marks the first anniversary of the death of an inspirational campaigner and much-loved personal trainer from West Sussex.

Jen Weller, of Burgess Hill near Brighton, died after developing 14 brain tumours within 18 months.

She was diagnosed with a primary tumour in her lung and five secondary tumours in her brain, as well as others in her neck and pelvis, in September 2020, a few days after suffering a seizure at home.

Following her shock terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 35, Jen launched a year-long series of fundraisers for the charities Brain Tumour Research and ALK Positive UK, raising more than £20,000 for Brain Tumour Research under the banner WellerFest.

Jen's stepson Paul Weller, who ran the London Marathon for Brain Tumour Research last month

That fundraising has continued in the wake of her death, with a charity football match held at Hassocks Football Club just last month raising more than £1,000. It involved women Jen played football with from the age of 15 to when she stopped at the age of 35.

Her step-granddaughter, who ran out with Jen during the event last year, also took part, scoring two goals, whilst Jen’s husband, Steve, a long-standing referee, ensured the rules were adhered to. Players wore the kits Jen obtained last year, pink for Brain Tumour Research and blue for ALK Positive UK.

Jen underwent a craniotomy to remove the largest of her brain tumours and used targeted drug therapy to try and slow the growth of her others, but in 2021 she learned her cancer had progressed. She had radiotherapy but found out at the end of the year she had developed a further nine brain tumours.

Sadly, her health continued to deteriorate and she died in a hospice, with Steve by her side, on 25 May 2022.

Players involved in last month’s charity football match

Jen’s stepson, Paul Weller, who ran the London Marathon for Brain Tumour Research last month, said: “The week leading up to Jen’s anniversary has probably been the hardest because of how she was at this time last year. Her deterioration happened so quickly, over just three or four days. It felt like there were so many things she was doing that, when they finished, she finally allowed herself to stop.”

The 37-year-old, who works as a dispatcher for the South East Coast Ambulance Service, added: “Before her diagnosis, I would have described Jen as sporty, loyal and fun, but afterwards, I used words like courageous, strong and inspirational.

“People deal with things in different ways, but the way Jen dealt with her situation was incredible, and she was laughing and smiling right to the end.