A DETERMINED grandmother has set herself an impressive trampolining challenge in memory of a well-known busker.
Jess Aidley is doing 100 jumps a day for 100 days on her grandchildren's trampoline in memory of her friend Ted Young, who died last year.
Ted was a recognisable face on the streets of Shoreham and Worthing, known for his one-man band busking performances.
The musician was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma – a type of cancer which affects plasma cells – in 2015, and last year his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Shortly after the first national lockdown was announced he was admitted to St Barnabas House Hospice, where he received specialist care until he died on April 9, 2020.
Jess, a retired priest in the Anglican Church, said: "Ted was held in very high esteem and in his retirement years would regularly perform for residential homes and Guildcare as well as his fundraising gigs held at the church.
"He had that knack of making people feel good.
"I’ve chosen to fundraise for St Barnabas House because of the outstanding care they have given to friends, especially my friend Ted."
The 78-year-old from Shoreham began her trampolining challenge on March 1 and has not missed a day yet.
She was inspired to fundraise from her garden after seeing London grandfather, the "Skipping Sikh", raise thousands of pounds for the NHS during lockdown last year.
Jess said: "My knees are not up to running marathons, but when I saw the Skipping Sikh raise money from his garden I thought, I could try something like that.
"I’ve been using my grandchildren’s trampoline in my garden to keep fit during lockdown.
"The only thing I’m not looking forward to is trampolining in heavy rain, but I’m determined not to miss a day. That’s the commitment I’ve made.
"I’ve lived on a houseboat in Shoreham for 11 years and my garden backs on to the new Riverbank footpath.
"People passing seem to be quite amused by the sight of an elderly woman jumping on a trampoline."
Jess has already raised more than £400 for St Barnabas.
To donate, visit her JustGiving page.
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