Run For All gives vital boost to local charities

Charity feature: Over the last nine years, countless charities and good causes have benefitted from the legacy of the late inspirational athlete and fundraiser, Jane Tomlinson CBE

From hospices and children’s health services, to community groups and baby care units, scores of charities – and many thousands of people – have all received vital support from the Jane Tomlinson Appeal through the Run For All events series and more recently the Yorkshire Marathon.

Here are just some of their stories:

Macmillan Cancer Support

Head of Challenge & Regional Events, Craig Fordham said: “On behalf of everyone at Macmillan Cancer Support, we would like to say a HUGE congratulations to Mike, the Tomlinson family and everyone associated with Jane’s appeal for reaching the incredible landmark figure of £7million.

“£7million is an enormously impressive number, but it doesn’t begin to tell the story of the real achievements.  These lie in the hundreds and thousands of lives that Jane’s Appeal has positively touched. Whether it’s through encouraging the people of Yorkshire and beyond, to get off their sofas and don their running shoes, or the countless services that charities such as Macmillan have been able to provide thanks to their generosity and support, Jane’s Appeal has proved a wonderful, life-affirming and life-changing organisation – a remarkable and very fitting tribute to a remarkable lady.

“Macmillan is enormously proud, honoured and grateful to Jane’s Appeal for their wonderful support of our work. Thanks to you and your fantastic events, we’ve been able to reach out to thousands of people affected by cancer.  It’s a fantastic bonus that everyone at Jane’s Appeal is thoroughly lovely to work with too!

“We wish you continued success for the future and look forward to working with you on many more exciting ventures’”

Pendleside Hospice, Lancashire 

Fundraising manager Kaye Bartle explains: ‘As a charity we are often approached by organisations who want us to be part of their events.  When I was approached by Mike Tomlinson from the Jane Tomlinson Appeal a few years ago I was so inspired by what Jane achieved under such adiversity and what Mike had achieved since Jane died that I knew we definitely wanted to be involved in their plans for a Pennine Lancs 10K. We were involved in the first Pennine Lancs 10K in Blackburn in 2010 and when we were asked if we would like to be partner charity when the event came to Burnley in 2013 we had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’.  Each year more than 300 people have take taken part in the Pennine Lancs 10K raising funds for Pendleside Hospice and around £50,000 of much needed funds have been raised; money that is essential to us in being able to continue our care to local people who have been given the devastating diagnosis of a life limiting illness.’

St Leonard’s Hospice, York

Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser said: 'Since the first York 10K in 2009 the runners for St Leonard’s Hospice have raised thousands of pounds – a great contribution to the £4 million we need to find each year to continue to care for local people with life-threatening illnesses and for their families.  We are very grateful to all the runners, and to the Jane Tomlinson Appeal organisation for its support!'

Leeds Mencap, Leeds

Fahad Khan, Senior Fundraising Officer said: “This year Leeds Mencap are proud to be coming on board as an official charity partner for the Leeds 10K. We are confident that this partnership will be a great success and it is a new chapter in this great friendship we have with the Jane Tomlinson Appeal and Run for All. We have had supporters run in events over the last few years however, the Jane Tomlinson Appeal has also been a great and valued supporter of young people affected by learning disabilities and Leeds Mencap. In 2012 they kindly donated £10,000 to Leeds Mencap for our youth clubs which meant we could continue providing this service to children and young adults from the ages of 9-25 years with services that they regard as a lifeline and parents regard as a crucial respite. We are incredibly grateful for this support and hope to continue building on this friendship for years to come”

Candlelighters, Yorkshire

Events Fundraiser Noemie Salvaudon: “Candlelighters is Yorkshire’s leading charity for children with cancer and their families, providing emotional, financial and practical support to these families from the very start of their childhood cancer journey. We have received support from the Jane Tomlinson Appeal since 2012 and have been a partner of the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, Hull 10K and York 10K since 2013. Team Candlelighters runners and volunteers have also been involved in other events organised by Run For All, in particular the Leeds Half-Marathon and Leeds 10K.

Thanks to our partnership with the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, we have been able to continue and increase the support Candlelighters give these families. The partnership has raised almost £120,000 since 2012. With 150 children newly diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia every year, these funds have helped us fund staff and research, provide grants and holidays, and organise activities for children, their siblings and their parents, on the ward, on clinic and away from the hospital.”

Liz Barran Head of Fundraising for the Haven in Yorkshire, said: “The Haven is thrilled to be an official charity partner with the Leeds 10k. This flagship event for the region is a fantastic opportunity for people to raise lots of money for causes close to their heart. Over the years the Leeds 10k has enabled The Haven to continue to provide, completely free of charge, a wide range of therapies which help people to deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer.”

Cheryl Harrington, Lead Fundraiser for St George’s Crypt, said: “St George’s Crypt has had runners supporting us in the Leeds 10k for the last few years, we are delighted to be a Partner Charity for the first time in 2015.”

Tessa Watson, Head of Fundraising at brainstrust, said: “brainstrust is delighted to be an official charity for the City of Lincoln 10K. The money raised will help us build a community for local brain cancer patients by hosting ‘Meet Ups’, organising days for carers, setting up a peer support network and enabling more outreach work with a designated support specialist. Please support brainstrust so that we can help more people in the area living with a terrifying brain tumour diagnosis.”

Emma Young, Fundraising Manager (Lincs) for Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Run For All has chosen the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance as one of the charity partners for the Lincoln 10K! We are hoping to get a really big team taking part in the event and to see lots of green T-shirts amongst the runners on the day! As a local charity we rely completely upon the support of local people and events such as the 10K.”