TOMLINSON'S END TO END CHALLENGE 2008

Mike and Rebecca, husband and daughter to the late Jane Tomlinson, set off today on their 1,400 mile journey from John O?Groats to Land?s End.

Jane Tomlinson died last September, seven years after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. During her long battle with the disease, she raised an enormous £1.75m for charity through a series of triathlon, running and cycling challenges.

Mike (46) and Rebecca (20) plan to average 50 miles per day on their three-week ride, leaving from John O?Groats as opposed to arriving there, echoing Jane?s tandem ride over the same route in 2003, which included two stops for chemotherapy treatment. A number of close friends will also join the ride, including Ryan Bowd who cycled with Jane from Rome to Leeds in 2004 and across America last summer.

According to Mike Tomlinson, the purpose of the ride is to ?remember Jane. I was with Jane for her three big rides and I always said that at some point I wanted to do the End to End challenge. It feels right that we should do it this summer, to pay tribute to Jane and hopefully to get over the £2m mark for the charity. This is what we really want to do?.

Along the ride, there will also be five special Ride-For-All days where up to 100 members of the public will be invited to join the challenge for the day.

The Ride-For-All days are Saturday July 19 (Carlisle to Kirkby Stephen); Monday July 21 (Settle to Leeds); Tuesday July 22 (Leeds to Retford); Saturday July 26 (Henley to Marlborough); Sunday July 27 (Marlborough to Wells). More details can be found at www.janesappeal.com.