Terminal cancer sufferer aims for £1m
Last updated at 11:00 27 July 2004
Terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson today announced that she is to participate in her third London Triathlon, even though her heart is only
working at 60%.
The 40-year-old mother of three had said she was not going to do any more fundraising when she finished her 2,000-mile bike ride from Rome to her
home in Leeds on June 7 this year, which raised more than £350,000.
However, Mrs Tomlinson just could not resist partaking in another event in an attempt to push her fundraising to her £1 million goal.
Last weekend, along with her daughters Rebecca, 16, and Suzanne, 19, she took part in the Salford Triathlon.
Now she will run 10km, swim 1.5km and cycle 40km for the gruelling London event on August 1.
In the last four years, all her challenges, which include a bike ride across England and Scotland, three marathons, two triathlons and a half
ironman triathlon have raised a total of £850,000 for charity.
She has taken part in all the events despite intense pain and suffering from terminal metastatic breast cancer.
She has now also been told that the cancer drugs, which she has been taking to control the pain and keep the disease at bay, have caused her chronic heart disease, leaving the organ only working at 60% - a serious risk when competing in such a tough event.
However, doctors have also said that Mrs Tomlinson's incredible fitness is what has kept her heart problems at bay until now.
The paediatric radiographer will only undergo three weeks' training for the event, making it even more difficult.
Her husband Mike, 43, said: "It's the hardest thing she has ever done in terms of distance.
"She will have the cycling legs in her after her bike ride but she will find the swim very difficult and the run will be tough.
"At the moment she can't run further than three miles and that was the other day at the Salford Triathlon. It's a big ask of her.
"However, Jane loves doing the event. The triathlon is her favourite event and she still wants to get to her goal of £1 million.
"We always said that Jane would still compete in events - it's just that she won't do another big one like the bike ride, where she has to be away
from the family. We won't ever do anything like the bike ride again."
Mr Tomlinson added that his wife's pain was under better control after her 36-day bike ride left her without the medical care she needs.
"She had radiotherapy four weeks ago and it has managed a lot of the pain in the back of her spine. The disease, however, is still progressive and every time Jane does an event it is harder than the last."
Mrs Tomlinson has been awarded an MBE from the Queen and carried the Olympic torch on its journey through London earlier this year.
Contributions to her appeal can be made online at
www.justgiving.com/Janesappeal.
All the money raised from this challenge will be split between Sparks, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Leeds Acute Paediatric Services and Hannah House
- a respite care centre for children.
Most watched News videos
- Suella Braverman reveals if she will run for Tory leader after loss
- Disappointed Suella warns of BIG PROBLEMS under Starmer government
- 'You have no remorse': Judge sentences Lucy Letby to life in prison
- Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing St for last time with wife and kids
- King's Guard bursts into tears after being surprised by parents
- Keir, far, wherever you are! Starmer and Victoria over the years
- 'Let's get the party started!': Carol Vorderman reacts to exit polls
- 'Anti-tourism' protesters use water pistols on visitors in Barcelona
- Old Ayub Qassim post sees him outside Airbnb where Jay was last seen
- Jay Slater's search continues where his mobile phone last pinged
- Labour's new Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks about Gaza
- Angela Rayner's power dressing: A look at some of her recent outfits