Sorry to read she lost her battle, what a fighter!

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lam
lam Member Posts: 202
edited June 2014 in Who or What Inspires You?
British cancer fundraiser dies

Sep 04 2007 02:46:15:850PM
Jane Tomlinson, a British woman with cancer who undertook gruelling physical challenges - including cycling across the US - to raise funds for cancer, has died.
London - A British woman with cancer who became a leading fundraiser has died after a seven-year battle with the disease, a family spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Jane Tomlinson, a 43-year-old paediatric radiologist, was told in 2000 that she had incurable breast cancer and was given only six months to live.
But despite the disease spreading, she raised more than £1.5m (R22m) through a series of gruelling physical challenges that would test the endurance of any healthy athlete.
She was the first person with terminal cancer to complete the Ironman triathlon (four-kilometre swim, 180-km bike ride and full marathon) and has run a number of marathons, including one while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
In 2004 she rode the 4 000km by bike from Rome to her home city of Leeds, northern England.
Last year she completed a nine-week, 6 780km ride across the United States from San Francisco to New York.
In recognition of her fund-raising efforts, Queen Elizabeth II made Tomlinson a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in her annual birthday honours list in June. She was made an MBE in 2003.
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  • myrenewal
    myrenewal Member Posts: 203
    edited September 2007

    What an inspiration - seven years battling stage 4 and running marathons to raise breast cancer research funds!! Some people just amaze me!! Thanks for sharing.

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  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited September 2007

    Jane lived about 2 miles from me.

    She was first diagnosed at 28 with IDC, had about 10 years grace, then it was back. She was a great big celeb. around here. She was still working a month ago, as a childrens radiologist.

    I think her funeral will bring the city to a standstill, she was given the freedom of the city a couple of years ago.  Flags are all flying at half mast. Worst of all she had a little boy about 8, and a newborn granddaughter.

     Isabella. 

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  • lam
    lam Member Posts: 202
    edited September 2007

    Hi Isabella,

    Thanks for sharing this about Jane.  Her story is very inspiring but also so heartbreaking.  I'm glad she is being honored at this time.

     Hugs,

    Leslie-Ann

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited September 2007

    This is so sad, I read about her.

    May she rest in peace now, knowing that she inspired and helped a lot of people.

    God Bless

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  • Valsul
    Valsul Member Posts: 160
    edited September 2007

    Hundreds lined the streets of Leeds for Jane's funeral, and the funeral mass was shown on two huge TV screens so that all could share.

    She was truly inspirational - taking on chemo after chemo to enable her to live longer with her family.  She even had chemo on her bike ride across the US.  She has raised about 3 million dollars for cancer research.

    My condolences to her family at this sad time.

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited September 2007

    Great story.  Inspiring?  Not for me...stories about women who have tragically lost their battle are not what I want to hear at this time.  She fought well, which may inspire some...not me.

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  • bomber410
    bomber410 Member Posts: 564
    edited September 2007

    As a marathoner and ultra marathoner who is on hiatus during chemo (no strength), I was inspired by how Jane lived her life with cancer.  She pushed herself above and beyond and channeled her strength to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. 

    Debbie 

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  • ozzie2
    ozzie2 Member Posts: 1,271
    edited September 2007

    Twink u come accross to me as very negative..sorry if I am reading you wrong ..but is there anything that inspires you? I have read several of your post and I read anger in them all...yes that is your right..we all feel anger when dx with BC...but most of us here are looking for hope...hope to see our children grow up, hope to see our grandchildren.. hope in lots of everyday things..

    I just wish I could give you some hope to help you in this journey...

    I for one on reading Jane's story in the paper thought what a wonderful woman she was...I also read that some people werent happy for what she did ....to help BC..and that amazed me ..wouldnt it be wonderful if a few more ladies could have the guts she had?

    Oz

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  • acgw
    acgw Member Posts: 286
    edited September 2007

    Dr. Tomlinson was a class act.

    May we use her as an inspiration to live our lives fully and with purpose.

    Casey

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  • nixic
    nixic Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2007

    Jane Tomlinson is an inspiration to all, not just BC sisters but to everone.....she showed the world that living with terminal illness dosn't mean curling up in a ball and weeping the day away, if that is what inspires you go ahead but I think she showed the world a different side to this disease.

    Also anyone who raises nearly 2 million pounds for the cause is a huge inspiration in my book.  I hope her husband dosn't read the negative post on here because she was a beacon of light in a very dark world.

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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited September 2007

    We are all (all living beings) going to die, some time of some thing. For humans, it is how we live that matters. I don't accept this disease or any other, but am inspired by Jane's life and spirit. I have lost many great friends to this disease. I choose to celebrate their lives (shorter than I would wish by far), but not any less inspiring for their brevity. A cure would be inspiring, but I am also inspired by a life well lived. I let go a lot of my anger when I realized I would live not forever and that it was mostly out of my control how long I lived, but--- how I live, what I stand for, what I honor, what inspires me, what I celebrate, what I leave others when I pass on--I have some choice.



    Jane, I hope you rest easy knowing that while alive, you helped many, you supported your husband and family, you taught your child/ren how to parent, you left a legacy for that granchild, you inspired many who have to deal with bc after you.



    Take care all,

    --Hattie

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