HEROINE JANE TOMLINSON DIES

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Sep 2007, 13:49

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_b ... 924618.ece

Terminal cancer sufferer and charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson has died, a family spokesman said today.

Mrs Tomlinson, 43, from Leeds, who raised Â£1.75 million for charity, died at St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, at 9pm yesterday.

She was diagnosed with terminal cancer seven years ago but defied her illness - and often doctors' orders - to dedicate her life to raising money for charity.

Today, her husband, Mike, and children, Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven, paid tribute to their wife and mother.

In a statement they said: "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."

Mrs Tomlinson was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago and told the cancer was terminal in 2000.

Over the last five years, she undertook a series of endurance events to raise money for charity.

Her last - and toughest - challenge was a 4,200-mile bike ride across America, from San Francisco to New York, enduring temperatures of more than 100F and altitudes of more than 11,000ft along the way.

She received a CBE for her work in June this year.

Other Articles on this story:

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/ ... linson.php
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/u ... tle/761762

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Sep 2007, 13:51

Jane Tomlinson: Family's Full Statement

Updated: 09:59, Tuesday September 04, 2007

Jane Tomlinson has passed away at St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds after a long battle with terminal cancer.

Here is the statement released by her family:

It is with profound sadness that Michael, Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven advise that their wife and mother Jane Tomlinson CBE has passed away.

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.

Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago and for the last 7 this has been in the knowledge that the disease was incurable.

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.

For the last five years we have shared Jane with a wider public audience as she has embarked on a series of endurance events.

No one was more surprised than us when she took out a gym membership in October 2000, a few weeks after the terminal diagnosis.

It seemed on the face of it massively out of character.

It is to her remarkable achievement that it became the norm for her to complete one marathon or triathlon after another.

Everyone became aware of her achievements and we hope as a result so the expectations of what can be achieved by the terminally ill have been raised.

We have been lucky to experience close at hand all the achievements but two deserve special mention.

In November 2004 Jane became the world's first woman with incurable cancer to complete an Ironman (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a full 42.2km marathon).

It seemed totally implausible that such an event could be attempted by someone so unwell.

Jane's fierce determination, courage and inner strength achieved what should not have been possible.

Just prior to the start of the last year's ride across America Jane guessed that the liver cancer she'd been advised of the previous December was progressing.

Three weeks into the ride, by the time we arrived in Kansas it was clear that this was indeed the case. Jane took the selfless decision to continue rather than return home for immediate treatment hoping to maximise the fundraising.

As her fellow cyclist Martyn Hollingsworth commented "to complete one days ride in such extreme conditions when so desperately unwell would be an amazing achievement but to do this daily for 9 weeks was beyond belief".

Jane could not have achieved these feats without the help and support of the superb oncology team at St James Hospital Leeds, especially Dr T Perrin, the physios, fellow cyclists and the many members of the public who have assisted.

At present Jane has raised Â£1.75 million and we as a family remain committed to continuing her work for the children's and cancer charities she supported.

Jane was proud to call Leeds her home city and especially honoured to be a Yorkshire woman and she hopes that the Leeds 10K she established will continue to grow becoming a major national fundraising event.

Everyone who knew Jane felt there was invincibility about her, but we always knew that this day was inevitable. As a family we are humbled to have lived with such a great person who we will always love.

Seven years ago her aim was to leave us with fantastic memories, none of us expected how fantastic those would be.

The family are going to take some time to grieve in private, though full funeral details will be made public in the near future.

Post by **Wessex** » 04 Sep 2007, 14:41

What a brave and selfless woman,an example to us all, her family must be so proud of her and yet at the same time devastated I offer condolences to them from a fellow cyclist

postie28 · Post by **postie28** » 04 Sep 2007, 15:48

very sad to hear to about the death of jane. she was an inspiration to us all.

coppertop · Post by **coppertop** » 04 Sep 2007, 18:03

So very sad ,but what a very brave women set a standard for so many to live upto all I can say is that those that knew her must be so proud .My hartfelt feelings go out to her family nothing else to say except she will be sadly missed by all who loved her but remmbered by all those she has helped through her fundraising

Post by **johnston65** » 04 Sep 2007, 18:40

Puts things into perspective more..when we all moan about having to do this and that we should always remember there is others who have bigger fights and struggles but never give in.

cruisey · Post by **cruisey** » 04 Sep 2007, 18:54

R.I.P jane. Such a brave woman who didn't let her illness get her down and battled on til the end.

madelin4 · Post by **madelin4** » 04 Sep 2007, 19:14

Indeed, a very brave and strong woman.. life is so fragile.[/b]

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 04 Sep 2007, 20:19

brave strong and selfless my best to her family and friends a great loss to the country,but someone who prooved what can be done

KawasakiKid · Post by **KawasakiKid** » 04 Sep 2007, 21:08

WONDERWOMAN-------------A KONDOLENCES KWAK