The Jane Tomlinson Appeal was established by the late Jane Tomlinson CBE to raise funds for children's and cancer charities.
2004
Events:
York Half Marathon, London Marathon, Rome to Home Bike Ride (2,500 miles), Salford Triathlon, London Triathlon, Nice Long Distance Triathlon, Florida Ironman
The following was written to mark the Jane Tomlinson Appeal raising £2million:
"In Summer 201, aged 21 and fit after three years training, I completed my first Ironman, swimming 3.8km, biking 180km and running a marathon, 42.2km. I wanted to quit 76 times (yes, I counted) but was kept going by something I had heard earlier that year, "To win an Ironman is to finish. To finish an Ironman is to win". In November 2004, Jane, slowly dying from a disease that would eventually take her precious life, having not been able to train properly, barely able to walk te week before and unable to get on her bike until only a day before, got up at 4am and made her way to the beach in Panama, Florida. I joined her on that incredible day. At 6.50am we stood side-by-side, silently staring out at the water, oblivious to the media scrum around. At 7am the starting pistol fired and we ran into the water and set off on our 226km challenge. Fifteen hours 48 minutes and 31 seconds later, Jane crossed the finish line. I don't know how many times she wanted to quit. I know how many times I thought she should but not once did I question her determination to finish.
"As Jane finished the world heralded the world's first terminally ill female cancer patient to complete an Ironman. Jane didn't care about the accolade. She loved the fact it would raise money for charity and help to alleviate the pain of families she would never know but whose loved ones would benefit from the care or research it would fund.
"Jane's achievement confirmed what I and the rest of the world already knew, that Jane was a superhuman. For her, she was part of the exclusive fraternity of Ironmen and women. For the rest of us, she was an example of what the human spirit can do mentally, physically and emotionally, what your 'ironman' may be. With love and thanks to you Jane...Ryan"
Ryan Bowd
Challenges
Jane's fundraising challenges included:
- 2002 - York Half Marathon, London Marathon, London Triathlon, Great North Run
- 2003 - York Half Marathon, John O'Groats to Lands End Bike Ride (1,300 miles), London Marathon, Salford Triathlon, London Triathlon, UK Half Ironman, Great North Run
- 2004 - York Half Marathon, London Marathon, Rome to Home Bike Ride (2,500 miles), Salford Triathlon, London Triathlon, Nice Long Distance Triathlon, Florida Ironman
- 2005 - Great North Run, New York Marathon
- 2006 - Ride Across America (3,800 miles)