A pink rose created in the memory of a teenager who lost her life to cancer aged 19 is going on general sale for the first time in Homebase stores this week.


The Teenage Spirit Rose was created in 2005 to celebrate the life of Jennifer Jones, who was treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit - Homebase's partner charity. Birmingham-based Jennifer was just 14 when she was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumour of the muscle.

After a year receiving aggressive treatment on the children's ward of a hospital, where she felt isolated without anyone her own age to talk to, she had a three year remission period. Sadly the cancer returned, but this time she was treated on a new Teenage Cancer Trust unit where she made new friends and was able to feel more independent.

Jennifer loved pink roses and during the last few days of her life spoke about wanting to fundraise for Teenager Cancer Trust units so more young people like herself could be treated there rather than on children's wards. Thanks to the work of her parents Steve and Kay Jones, a patio floribunda rose was created in her memory. Named the Teenage Spirit Rose, it has now become the symbol of Jennifer's fundraising.

Jennifer's mother Kay said: "For family and friends the pink rose has come to personify Jennifer. It is so fitting that a rose for her memory can raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust - a cause that she was so passionate about. We are so proud and very grateful to Homebase for bringing the Teenage Spirit Rose to general sale for the first time."

Homebase hopes to raise thousands of pounds for Teenage Cancer Trust through sales of the rose, which reaches a height of about 50cm and has flowers of dark-to-light pink.

Homebase's head of corporate responsibility Amy Whidburn said: "We are delighted to be able to sell the Teenage Spirit Rose in Homebase stores this summer. Our colleagues and customers have been hugely supportive of our partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and we hope they will go a step further this summer with the purchase of these beautiful roses."

All proceeds will go towards the construction and maintenance of 22 teenage cancer units like the one where Jennifer was treated in NHS hospitals in the UK and Ireland.

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