Positive Thinking - How To Smile In The Face Of Illness, Old Age And Death

Jane Tomlinson, a middle aged woman fromundergo numerous courses of chemotherapy and
Yorkshire, died on Monday night, September 3rd,several drug regimes. To make matters worse,
2007 aged 43. She was one of the most inspiringshe developed chronic heart disease.
human beings to have walked this earth.If I had even a mild heart disease, I would tiptoe
In August, 2000 she was diagnosed with breastabout avoiding any strenuous exercise. Not Jane.
cancer which had returned after an earlier attackShe had the courage of Boadicea, the warrior
when she was 26.queen and the mental strength of a Florence
She was told in 2000 that she had six months toNightingale.
live since her cancer was judged to be incurable.She was voted the most inspirational woman in
Some people respond to such news by retiring toBritain in 2003 and, as a result of her charitable
bed and waiting for death and who can blamework, was awarded a CBE (Commander Of The
them? She did the opposite.British Empire) in June 2007.
She looked on her death sentence as anJane's family said: "It is to her remarkable
opportunity to set herself new goals and dreams.achievement that it became the norm for her to
She would seize the days she had left and makecomplete one marathon or triathlon after another.
the most of them."Everyone became aware of her achievements
She decided to raise money for future cancerand we hope as a result the expectations of
sufferers and to leave her children a memory ofwhat can be achieved by the terminally ill have
a mother that they would be proud of.been raised.
She began, without previous experience, to run"We are, as a family, heartbroken at this loss, but
marathons and to eventually do triathlons and towe know this extends to all her family and
undertake long and exhausting cycle journeys.friends. Jane has always said her family has been
Part of her dream for what was left of her lifethe greatest joy in life, and we feel honoured to
was to give people inspiration:have been blessed with such a wonderful person.
"I hope that I have shown people that even with"We hope that she is now at peace from the pain
a dire prognosis there is so much you can do withthat has accompanied her for so long."
your life."Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement:
She wanted to show that people with a terminal"The whole country will be greatly saddened by
prognosis can still lead an active and useful life.the death of Jane Tomlinson and our thoughts are
She stated that: "Death does not arrive with thewith her husband, her three children and all her
prognosis."family and friends.
In fact, her words could apply to the whole"We will remember her amazing spirit and
human race since death is the prognosis thatstrength and that exceptional charity work, and
faces us all. Perhaps her words are especiallyshe will be a daily inspiration to our generation to
applicable to the elderly who are approaching thefight on against the terrible scourge of cancer."
end of their lives and know that they do notSome of the charities that benefited from Jane's
have that much time left.fundraising are Sparks, Macmillan Cancer Support
Some people retire from their job and then giveand Martin House Children's Hospice.
up on life almost immediately. Others will notWhen Jane gave up taking part in competitive
undertake anything difficult after retirement in theevents at the end of 2006, she did not stop
mistaken view that their productive days on thisworking for the health of the human race. She
planet are over.concentrated on establishing an event which would
Jane is an inspiration, then, not only to the ill buthelp raise funds for cancer and children's charities
to anyone who believes that death may not befor years to come.
that far off for any reason.The event is 'The Leeds 10k 'Run For All.' The
Her last adventure was cycling across America infirst event was a great success which attracted
nine weeks. She would be in great pain in the8,000 participants. It will probably continue Jane's
mornings but she just carried on.work for years to come.
Her husband said that she had the inner strengthJane was both a loving mother and wife but also
to say:a warrior queen who lived out one of the key
"I'm not feeling very well but I'm not going to letideas behind the inspiring words of Dylan Thomas
that stop me doing anything."i.e. do not give up when death comes near:
She raised £1.75 million for various charities"Do not go gentle into that good night,
through starting and completing a series ofRage, rage against the dying of the light."
grueling sporting challenges.She is an inspiration to the ill who believe their
She completed a full Ironman (4km Swim, 180Kmdays are numbered but she is also an inspiration
bike ride and full marathon - completed inside 17to the elderly who think their lives are nearly
hours), two half Ironmans, the London Marathonover. Again Dylan Thomas summed it up in the
three times, the New York Marathon, threefirst verse of the poem quoted above:
London Triathlons and three long distance bike"Do not go gentle into that good night,
rides - John O'Groats to Lands End, Rome toOld age should burn and rave at close of day;
Leeds and her final huge challenge a 6781.8 kmRage, rage against the dying of the light."
ride across America.Jane did not 'rage' but she bravely and cheerfully
Doctors said that such tasks were practicallycontinued to live a full life with a 5 foot 2 inch
impossible for patients undergoing chemotherapybody riddled with cancer. She smiled in the face of
to even attemptpain and death.
Her husband believed that 'Iron Man' was a greatPerhaps the words of the Emperor Marcus
description of Jane who suffered huge pain forAurelius, in the film 'Gladiator' suit Jane better than
seven years and yet completed events thatthe words of Dylan Thomas.
would kill off most healthy people."Death smiles at us all; all a man (or woman) can
Over a seven year period, Jane also had todo is smile back.