Jane Tomlinson Dies

[Flynny]

Jane Tomlinson loses cancer fight

Terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson has died aged 43, following a seven-year battle with the disease.

The married mother-of-three, who was made CBE for charitable services in June, had raised £1.75m in a series of gruelling challenges.

She died at St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds at 2100 BST on Monday.

Her husband Mike and children Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven said they were heartbroken but "honoured to have been blessed with such a wonderful person".

Mrs Tomlinson, of Rothwell, Leeds, was told in 2000 her metastatic breast cancer was incurable and that she had just six months to live.

'Now at peace'

She then dedicated her life to raising money for charity, going on to complete a number of fundraising challenges, including the Great North Run, London Marathon and the Ironman UK Triathlon.

In a statement her family 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."

"The weight of this burden has been immense on all of us, but primarily Jane.

"We hope she is now at peace from the pain that has accompanied her for so long."

In June 2006 Mrs Tomlinson set off on her toughest fundraising challenge, cycling 4,200 miles across the US.

Following the nine-week bike ride, she decided to stop taking part in major fundraising events and spend more time with her family.

In June 2007 about 8,000 runners took part in a 10km race through Leeds, organised by Mrs Tomlinson.

Though she was too ill to take part, she signalled the start of the charity run and waved every participant over the starting line.

Her family said they remained committed to continuing her work for the charities she supported, and would continue to organise the Leeds 10k.

They said: "Everyone who knew Jane felt there was an 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."

What a woman she was. Amazing.

Please don't just fill up the thread with inane "RIP Jane " messages. They really are useless.

[James.]

What a woman she was. Amazing.

Please don't just fill up the thread with inane "RIP Jane " messages. They really are useless.

Let people show their respect in whatever way they want.

I personally do not know much about her but acknowledge and admire everything she has done for charity. And I do indeed hope she rests in peace.

[Thracian]

So sad. And such an insidious disease.

[Flynny]

It's amazing she managed to fight it for so long. She lived 14 times longer than the doctors reckoned she would at first. A lot of thats got to be down to her iron determination that kept her going so long in her athletic endeavors. She was a brave, brave woman.

[Finnegan]

Let people show their respect in whatever way they want.

I personally do not know much about her but acknowledge and admire everything she has done for charity. And I do indeed hope she rests in peace.

Any mug can just type "rip jane tomlinson", it makes me cringe a little really. It's not necessarily any more a show of respect than it is +1 post count. Sometimes silence is as much respectful as anything else, it isn't important that you reply to an internet message to feel something and be respectful and awed by the power the woman had and the things she did. Just take a moment to, in real life, behind your monitor, to just be touched and to consider what the lady really achieved and how it may or may not inspire you.

[Flynny]

Any mug can just type "rip jane tomlinson", it makes me cringe a little really. It's not necessarily any more a show of respect than it is +1 post count. Sometimes silence is as much respectful as anything else, it isn't important that you reply to an internet message to feel something and be respectful and awed by the power the woman had and the things she did. Just take a moment to, in real life, behind your monitor, to just be touched and to consider what the lady really achieved and how it may or may not inspire you.

Well put.

[James.]

Any mug can just type "rip jane tomlinson", it makes me cringe a little really. It's not necessarily any more a show of respect than it is +1 post count. Sometimes silence is as much respectful as anything else, it isn't important that you reply to an internet message to feel something and be respectful and awed by the power the woman had and the things she did. Just take a moment to, in real life, behind your monitor, to just be touched and to consider what the lady really achieved and how it may or may not inspire you.

That's fine and also exactly what I did when I read the news. She was clearly a fantastic woman.

I'm just defending someone's right to post RIP if they feel that is the way they wish to mark their respect. Quite simple really.

It's a little much telling people how they should or shouldn't remember (and show admiration for) someone who has died.

[Ashley]

RIP

[Darkzzz_]

One of the true modern heroes... And that word is banded around to anybody now a days!! But She really was... She helped so many people whilst suffering herself... Her bravery and courage always shone through..... Although everybody knew this was going to be the outcome, she will be sadly missed by all who knew her....

Rest In Peace Jane.

[Raj]

Having had an uncle who died last year from Cancer and being a semi-keen Cyclist myself,i told him about Jane and her bike ride through USA.

It inspired him in so much it gave him that extra will to fight the bastard disease,but unfortunately to no avail.

I struggle cycling for 2 hours,this lady was suffering with cancer and to do what she did was truely amazing.

Us mere mortals should look to people like this to guide us through dark times we will ultimately have in our lives.

( I dont wish to clutter up this thread,but i watched her programme and felt inspired by her)

[David O'Leary]

she was obviously a fantastic person R.I.P

[Bryn]

Just goes to show how bad things happen to good people.

[Geo V]

A really brave woman finally loses her battle with the disease. As someone whose mum died 6 plus years ago from Cancer I can empathize in the families pain and wish them all well.

RIP

BTW I agree the good die young!

[Flynny]

DB11 PMed me asking me who she was, which I guess is respectful. If you haven't heard of her, though, you might want to read about her. Type her name into google's news bit, for instance.

A good obituary is here, which should give a good outline of what a great woman she actually was. Link.

[Ultra]

She made the most of the life she had. The word inspiration scarcely does her justice.

Let's hope her work brings a cure for that dreadful disease that much closer.

[stripeyfox]

Any mug can just type "rip jane tomlinson", it makes me cringe a little really. It's not necessarily any more a show of respect than it is +1 post count. Sometimes silence is as much respectful as anything else, it isn't important that you reply to an internet message to feel something and be respectful and awed by the power the woman had and the things she did. Just take a moment to, in real life, behind your monitor, to just be touched and to consider what the lady really achieved and how it may or may not inspire you.

Fantasically put. And I agree, much better than the normal RIP messages - they do seem a bit lazy to me.

Jane Tomlinson was an inspiration to us all - in an age where any nobody can go on some shite reality tv show and become a "hero" or some average sportsman who earns a fortune for not even being close to the top of his profession can also achieve "hero" status, Jane truly was a hero. I can't imagine for a second what it would be like to be told I had a terminal illness, but Jane picked herself up and decided to fight the disease every step of the way. raising much money and awareness for cancer charities and completed gruelling physical endurance events that would make most fit athletic blokes go home crying to their mum's.

If only some of the morons in our media and those who lavish respect and plaudits on celebreties such as Kate Moss, Jordan and others could focus a little bit more on the real heroes of our time like Jane, the country would be a better place.

Rest easy Jane, your legacy is your lovely children to whom you were not just a mother but an inspiring and heroic woman.