Jenny Pitman pledges support to the Samaritans (From Swindon Advertiser)

Jenny Pitman pledges support to the Samaritans

7:20pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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FORMER champion racehorse trainer Jenny Pitman has pledged her support to Swindon Samaritans.

Jenny, 63, a twice Grand National-winning trainer from Kinturby near Hungerford, said the branch performed an essential listening ear service for Swindon people in crisis.

She visited the centre and shop in Curtis Street in the town centre yesterday and said she wished she approached the Samaritans when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 10 years ago.

“I think the Samaritans perform a truly unique job and I see them very much as unsung heroes,” she said.

“I have always been emotionally constipated and although my family knew I had cancer, I never discussed it with them.

“I think if I had turned to the Samaritans they could have opened me up a bit and helped me get the worry off my chest.”

Jenny said that as well as helping her, the charity would have been the ideal listening ear for her husband David who had to face the possibility of losing his wife.

“Sometimes you need to talk to someone else who is separate from the issue,” she said.

“I didn’t talk to David about the cancer because I didn’t want to worry him and he didn’t talk to me about it because he didn’t want me to dwell on it. Maybe that was the wrong thing to do.”

Jenny was given the all clear five years ago and is now fighting fit but says she will never forget the feeling of isolation during her ordeal.

“The isolation I felt can’t have been much different to the isolation anyone feels when they have the weight of the world on their shoulders,” she said.

“There must be people in a far worse position in Swindon and I would urge them to turn to Samaritans in a time of crisis.”

Paul Bentley, branch director at Swindon Samaritans has known Mrs Pitman for 40 years.

He said: “I asked Jenny to become an ambassador for us because sometimes at the Samaritans we can become a bit insular about what we do here.

“We are a crutch in a crisis, always here whatever the problem and, with Jenny’s support, more people will know that.”

To find out about what services the Samaritans offer call 08457 90 90 90, write to Samaritans, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, or log on to www.samaritans.org for more information.