Jane Tomlinson's family announce new Yorkshire marathon

Mr Tomlinson said: "York is a great place to run round."

A new marathon to be held in Yorkshire has been organised by the family of charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson, who died from cancer.

The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon will take place in York on 20 October.

It is being organised by the Jane Tomlinson's For All Events, which was set up by the Tomlinson family as a legacy to Jane who died in 2007.

Husband Mike Tomlinson said: "If Jane was alive and she was well, she'd be here and running."

Mrs Tomlinson, from Leeds, undertook a series of fundraising sporting challenges after being told her cancer was terminal in 2000.

She had raised more than £1.5m by the time of her death in 2007.

Jane Tomlinson's For All Events already stages the Leeds, York, Hull and Pennine-Lancashire 10k races and the Leeds half marathon.

Mr Tomlinson said: "We know it's going to be a massive event. The aim really is to raise as much money for charity as we can, for as many charities as we can."

'Huge success'

The race start and finish will be at the University of York. Runners will pass York's historic city walls, the famous Betty's tea rooms and York Minster, and go through villages in North Yorkshire and the East Riding.

A number of sporting personalities have backed the event which is being officially launched later.

Hannah Cockroft said: "It's exciting the legacy is coming home."

TV football pundit Chris Kamara said: "I know Jane Tomlinson was a massive inspiration to me and I'm sure she was to many, many other people.

"I hope thousands of people pull on their running shoes to take part in this.

"Good luck everyone. I know it will be a huge success and bring in lots of money for deserving causes."

Double Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft said the event would build on Yorkshire's achievements in the 2012 Olympics.

She said: "Last summer proved that Yorkshire was the best county for sport in Britain and now that Yorkshire has its very own marathon, people can come and share in the legacy that was created."