US:Briton Jane Tomlinson, hailed as an inspiration for defying terminal cancer to run marathons, cycle across America and raise over a million pounds for charity, has died at the age of 43.
A family spokesman said that the mother-of-three died late on Monday - some seven years after she was diagnosed with incurable cancer and told she would not survive more than six months.
British prime minister Gordon Brown described her as an "inspiration to millions around the world" and paid tribute to her "amazing spirit" in tackling marathons, endurance cycle rides and "ironman" triathlons to raise £1.25 million (€1.85 million) for cancer charities. Her last big challenge was a cycle ride across America in 2006. "The whole country will be greatly saddened by the death of Jane Tomlinson," Mr Brown said. "We will remember her amazing spirit and strength and that exceptional charity work, and she will be a daily inspiration to our generation to fight on against the terrible scourge of cancer."
Tomlinson's family admitted they were more surprised than anyone when, in October 2000, a matter of weeks after being told that her cancer was terminal, she decided to join a gym.
"It seemed, on the face of it, massively out of character," they said in a statement. "It is to her remarkable achievement that it became the norm for her to complete one marathon or triathlon after another."
In April 2003 Tomlinson became the first person on chemotherapy to run a marathon when she completed her second London Marathon. In November 2004 she became the first woman with incurable cancer to complete an ironman triathlon - a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km cycle ride and a full 42km marathon.
Canadian Ryan Bowd and Scot Martyn Hollingworth, cyclists who supported Tomlinson in her ride across the US, said that she was one of very few people worthy of being called "remarkable".