FAMILY and friends of Jane Tomlinson are set to complete a double marathon and a 600-mile bike ride in only eight days – ten years after she became the first person to complete the London Marathon when diagnosed with breast cancer.

Widower Mike Tomlinson and their daughter Rebecca – a former York student – will set off for the epic fundraising challenge this weekend alongside, among others, four-times Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington, marathon star Tracey Morris, MP Greg Mulholland, and Bob Bowman, trustee of the Leeds Rugby Foundation.

They will follow in the footsteps of Jane, who set the endurance bar high, completing challenges such as the Florida Ironman in 2004 and a 2,500-mile bike ride across America in 2006.

The challenge will see the team run the 26-mile Paris marathon then cycle for six days to London, via France, Belgium and the Jane’s Appeal home turf of Yorkshire, before completing the London Marathon.

Mike, who has been at the forefront of continuing the appeal’s fundraising efforts following Jane’s death in 2007 – including setting up a landmark 10k event in York – said he wanted to something “outstanding” to remember his late wife and mark the ten years since she ran the London Marathon for the first time.

He said: “Jane’s feats have been un-paralleled and looking back several years on, seem all the more extraordinary.

“As a family we wanted to both mark the tenth anniversary and celebrate it.

“We can’t begin to replicate what she achieved but in our own small way wanted to bow our heads to an extraordinary wife, mother and woman.

“A challenge of this intensity will not only be a physical challenge but without doubt a mental one too.”

The cycle route will incorporate York and other Yorkshire cities, including Leeds and Hull, and has encouraged supporters to join the team along the way.

The team hope Jane’s Appeal will reach a fundraising milestone of £5 million by April next year.

The team will begin their challenge with the Paris Marathon on Sunday.

To support the Anniversary Challenge, visit justgiving.com/anniversarychallenge