AN ARMY officer who grew up in Hook is gearing up to complete 12 Herculean challenges in 12 months of 2022 to raise money for a veterans’ charity.
Jennifer Price, 31, who now lives between Hampshire and London because of her job in the Army, is raising money for the Veterans Foundation.
They include climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and competing in skiing, canoeing, marathons, and an ultra-marathon (250km) around the world.
The first challenge is on January 16 when she competes in the Pustertaler Ski Marathon in Italy.
Jenny, who spent the first 25 years of her life in Hook, is a Commissioned Officer in the British Army.
She will be leaving the Army next summer, and hence decided to contribute to a great cause on her way out.
“I think it will be harder than I think at the moment,” Jenny said.
“I have tried skiing, canoeing, running, and mountaineering, but I haven’t done these exact challenges before. I have never run a marathon before. But I have been in the Army for 10 years, so I have done a lot of physical activities.
“I wonder if I’m underestimating [the challenges] a little bit, but I’m really excited. But more importantly, the whole point is to raise money for Veterans Foundation.”
Jenny also explained why she is undertaking these challenges.
She wrote in her blog: “Do I want to do this because I am genuinely passionate about adventure and challenge and want to inspire it in others?
“Do I want to do this to raise money for a worthy cause?
“Or do I want to do this because I want to change and develop my identity by doing something with a wow factor? Is it my ego or my sense of doing something meaningful that is the driving force? A dichotomy of being selfish vs authentic.
“I’m scared of being seen as virtue signalling or of not being authentic in my approach to this. I know how many cynics out there consider some fundraising activity to be just the adventures of the middle class, made worthy by joining up with a charity.
“I don’t want this to be the perception people have of this event, but I also have to be honest with myself about my reasons. By questioning this, and discussing with friends, I have realised that it is all of the reasons I mentioned above, and they are equal to each other.
“I do want to do something meaningful at a time in my life where I am rich in time and freedom to do so. It would be so easy for me to pick some of these challenges and do them in my own time, at my own pace, and without any need for sponsors, or any effort fundraising. But that wouldn’t feel worth it; what would I be giving back, or achieving?”
Jenny has the full support of the Veterans Foundation, which raise fund for multiple military charities from mental health, to service families support and combat injury charities.
Some of Jenny’s challenges will be part of an organised event and others will be self-generated.
The details of the challenges and funds raised will be regularly updated through her blog.
Jenny, who went to school in Odiham, is a former member of the Basingstoke Ladies hockey team, and an ardent fan of Basingstoke Town FC.
If you wish to contribute to Jenny’s challenges and help the Veterans Foundation, visit her blog at www.jennevolve.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here