Honorary
Doctorates |
Jane Tomlinson MBE
View images of Jane Tomlinson at Graduation
Leeds Met students are celebrating their achievements during Winter
Graduation 2005 alongside Honorary Awardees. Leeds ' champion fundraiser
Jane Tomlinson received an Honorary Doctorate of Sports
Science.
Jane Tomlinson is renowned for her charitable fund raising work despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jane has given hope, inspiration and encouragement to others with cancer and, inspired many people to take up sport.
On congratulating graduands from the Faculty of Business and Law, Jane Tomlinson reminded them to thank those who’ve helped them arrive at this stage of their lives, from friends who texted during periods of anxiety to parents and partners and lecturers, “all of whom will have helped you on your way”.
Jane went on to say: “The future may not be plain sailing, at the age of 26 I was told I had cancer. My life was settled with a family when in 2000 I was told the disease had spread to my legs and there was no cure for my secondary cancer. I had to remain optimistic but death didn’t seem far away. I surprised my family when I took up running, but I trained through the winter to build up my indurance and strength.
“I kept thinking, ‘so what if I had cancer, and so what if I was going to die’. I wanted to raise money to help others.
“I completed my dream when I finished the Ironman in Florida in 16 hours which included a two mile swim, 112 mile cycle and a full marathon. Ryan Bowd, a senior lecturer at Leeds Met supported and encouraged me and I had further help from Dave Hancock, who is a physiotherapist.”
Jane also attributed much of her success to the treatment she receives at St James hospital.
Jane concluded her speech to graduands by saying: “Make the most of your opportunities.”
Jane is married with three children and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2002 with a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Imaging Practice. She currently works as a radiographer at Leeds General Infirmary. She was awarded a Fellowship of the College of Radiographers in 2003.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 at the age of just twenty-six. In August 2000 a scan revealed secondary tumours and the diagnosis was terminal. At this point Jane was determined to prove to others in the same circumstances that life can go on and anything is possible. She embarked on what turned out to be four years of fund raising by completing some of the world's most difficult athletic challenges. Supported by her husband Mike, she has raised £1,150,000, surpassing her one million pound target, after finishing the London Marathon three times, the London Triathlon three times, completing two half-Ironman triathlons, the Nice three quarter Ironman, and cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End and from Rome to her home in Leeds . With the completion of the full Iron man in Florida in 2004, she declared that she was retiring from public fund raising. However, she recently decided to come out of retirement and embark on a further campaign to raise another £1m, starting with the completion of the New York marathon last month in 5 hours 15 minutes.
Her other accolades include being awarded the MBE in 2003, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the Women of Achievement award in 2002. She was made Freeman of the City of Leeds earlier this year.
