Fundraiser Tomlinson loses cancer battle

Inspirational charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson has died after a seven-year battle with terminal cancer, a family spokesman has said.

The grandmother and mother-of-three from Rothwell, Leeds, suffered from advanced metastatic breast cancer diagnosed in 2000 and was told she had just six months to live.

Through a series of gruelling feats of endurance, the 43-year-old went on to raise over £1.5 million for a series of charities which help cancer patients.

With a string of high-profile awards to her name, she admitted feeling "constantly surprised" that she had lived so long, but said she had an "unfinished job to do as a mum" to Suzanne, 21, Rebecca, 19, and ten-year-old Steven.

Her husband Mike and the children paid tribute to their wife and mother saying: "We are, as a family heartbroken, at this loss but we know this extends to all her family and friends.

"Jane has always said her family has been the greatest joy in life and we feel honoured to have been blessed with such a wonderful person."

They added: "The weight of this burden has been immense on all of us, but primarily Jane. We hope that she is now at peace from the pain that has accompanied her for so long."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was saddened by the news and paid tribute to Jane's "amazing spirit and strength".

And Tory leader David Cameron said: "I have long admired Jane Tomlinson's selfless and inspiring work - raising awareness and money for the fight against cancer.

"Her death is a true tragedy and my thoughts are with her family."

Last year, in her toughest challenge of all, Jane spent nine weeks cycling 4,200 miles from San Francisco to New York, enduring temperatures of more than 100F and altitudes of more than 11,000ft along the way.

She also became the only cancer patient to complete a full Ironman triathlon, the first person to run a marathon while on chemotherapy and also completed a 2,500-mile bike ride from Rome to the UK.

In June, Jane said: "The reality is that this will probably be the last summer that I get to spend with my family because of the extent of the disease that I have.

"That's quite difficult to live with and it's quite difficult to stay positive, but you have to put that at the back of your mind so that you can enjoy the summer and that's what I'm going to be trying to do... spending the summer with my family."

She went on: "I've had seven years to contemplate the fact that I'm not going to be around for my family but it doesn't make that end point any clearer, I don't think, and it doesn't make it any easier when you meet it."

The CBE Jane received in June and the MBE she was awarded in 2003 formed just part of the national recognition she received which included more than 15 awards for her charity efforts, including the Helen Rollason award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2002 and a Pride of Britain Award in 2005.

Ryan Bowd, who rode with Mrs Tomlinson and Martyn Hollingworth on her Ride Across America, said: "Inspirational and remarkable are words that are often batted around easily in our modern times of pseudo-celebrity and reality television hero manufacturing.

"Most people who we use these words to describe are often not worthy or live up completely to the carefully honed and projected images of themselves. This was not so in Jane Tomlinson's case.

"Jane Tomlinson was and should be remembered as an ordinary woman, a loving wife to her husband Mike, a caring mother to her children Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven, a sister, a daughter, a colleague to those who worked with her in the radiology unit, a good friend to people such as Martyn and I and countless others."

Officials from Leeds City Council said Mrs Tomlinson had won a special place in the hearts of the residents of the city.

A book of condolences for people to sign in her memory has been placed at the Civic Hall.

Council leader Mark Harris said: "Very occasionally we are touched by an exceptional person. Somebody who in any other circumstances would be totally overwhelmed by the challenges they face. Jane Tomlinson was that sort of person.

"Leeds is a better place for her and her family having come here and I cannot imagine that the city will ever forget about her."

The Bishop of Leeds praised Mrs Tomlinson for her courage and altruism.

The Rt Rev Arthur Roche said: "She was a bright beam of light in the midst of a darkness that can so often accompany terminal illness.

"She fought a very brave fight, of Olympian proportions, right to the end of her earthly life and has left us a legacy of courage when faced with difficulty; of striving for others despite one's own important needs."

A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mrs Tomlinson trained and worked as a radiographer and for which she raised money through her charity work, said she would be sadly missed by everyone.

He said: "There is clearly a tremendous sense of collective sorrow at the hospital and in the city where Jane lived and worked.

"Jane's remarkable life is a fantastic inspiration and as a Trust we are very grateful for all that she did to help others, both through the example of her extraordinary determination and commitment to fundraising."

Nell McAndrew, who took part in the Leeds 10k Run For All in June this year, said Mrs Tomlinson's memory will live on.

The model, from Leeds, said: "I feel extremely honoured to have met such a truly amazing person.

"Jane will be remembered for her spirit and strength, her achievements to helping others will live forever.

"Jane raised so much money for charity and will continue to do so through the Jane Tomlinson Run For All, the Leeds 10k event which I helped her and Mike promote.

"Jane will be missed by the whole nation and my heart goes out to Mike, their children and the rest of Jane's family."

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