Meet Jess – team leader from Team Jenny. 

Jess has been participating in the Noosa Triathlon for Cure Brain Cancer since 2017. When asked if she was a serious triathlete, her response was that she was “all about participation”. The inspiration behind Team Jenny from Team leader Jess Percival: 

“In 2014 my Mum, Jenny, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, and passed away 10 weeks later.  

That year, my sister and I hosted a charity night in her honour, “Cheers to Jenny”, to raise funds in support of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. I thought participating in an event would be another great way to raise awareness, so my dad and I signed up and participated in the City2Surf with Cure Brain Cancer – neither of us having ever been runners with zero training. Dad rocked up in jeans, and I broke my ribs the week before…safe to say no records were broken, but the pride of honouring Mum, and supporting a great cause, really helped us feel a sense of purpose during the hardest stages of our grief. 

Mum always told me I could really do absolutely anything, (which sometimes leads me to attempt things way outside of my abilities lol), so I decided I wanted to up the stakes every year!  

I walked the Great Wall of China in 2015 for CBCF, and then in 2016 I signed up for the Noosa Tri with my husband, Andy. Our first ever triathlon!  We came back for 2017, then in 2018, my bestie Sam and her sis joined, and Team Jenny was born.  

Noosa gives you such a rush and feeling of accomplishment, that you can’t wait to do it again! In 2019, we had 6 people in Team Jenny, in 2022 we grew to 11…and now 2023 there are 21 of us!!! An Olympic triathlon isn’t just a fun run, it takes dedication and discipline to complete months of training alongside the commitment to raising money for the foundation.  We’re all so proud to be a part of Team Cure Brain Cancer and Team Jenny.  

We’re all honouring Mum’s legacy in the best way possible – and I’m proud of our commitment to support a cause that is so close to all our hearts.”