in loving memory of Jane
Jane Tomlinson Dies
Sparks is sad to announce the death at 43 of Jane Tomlinson, CBE, a vice-president of the charity and our biggest ever individual fundraiser.
Jane’s inspirational fundraising challenges—which included marathons, triathlons, IronMan events and cycling from Rome to her home city of Leeds and from the West Coast to the East Coast of the USA—raised well over £400,000 for Sparks and over 1million for the other charities close to her heart.
Jane’s incomparable fundraising challenges in defiance of her own terminal cancer made her both a national and international icon who was honoured by the Queen and voted the most inspirational woman in Britain in newspaper polls.
For the team at Sparks, the news of her death meant not just the loss of a dedicated vice-president and extraordinary fundraiser, but that of a much-loved friend whose epic efforts to raise both money and awareness of our work will never be forgotten.
As a mother of 3 and an NHS paediatric radiographer by profession, Jane felt a special rapport with Sparks paediatric research mission aimed at helping more children to be born healthy and stay healthy.
The inaugural Jane Tomlinson Leeds 10k Run for All---which took place on June 24---will become an annual event, a living memorial to a truly remarkable woman that will maintain her charity fundraising legacy.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Jane’s husband, Mike, and their children, Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven.