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'Bionic woman' makes return to Run for All
A PENSIONER will push his wife in a wheelchair around the course of this year's Leeds 10k: Jane Tomlinson's Run For All –for the second time.
Doreen Cooper, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was just 22 , says she is known locally as "the bionic woman" because she has had so many joint replacements.
Despite relying on a wheelchair for most journeys out of her home in Lofthouse, near Wakefield, the 71-year-old has been determined not to let her condition impact on her active life. So when she asked her husband Brian to help her around the course last year, he could hardly refuse.
The couple enjoyed the event so much, when they raised close to 600, that they are preparing to do it all again.
Mrs Cooper, who has undergone about 15 operations in the past 20 years, said: "It was fantastic last year. Everyone seemed so happy; I thought it was lovely. I said to Brian that if he was game for it I would do it again."
The former sales assistant was forced to give up work when she was just 30 because of her condition and was warned it would spread throughout her body.
But the couple, who celebrate their golden wedding this year, have travelled across the globe with Mr Cooper pushing his wife in her wheelchair.
Mr Cooper, who took up running agreed 64 and completed the London Marathon a year later, ran the inaugural event in Leeds.
The 71-year-old retired planning engineer said: "My wife was quite envious of me being able to do it so I said that if she was willing for me to push her around the course, I would push her around it."
Jane Tomlinson was a prominent Leeds fundraiser, especially during her long battle with cancer. She was awarded a CBE before her death in 2007 and her husband Mike and their family have continued her fundraising legacy through the 10k event.
Those taking part are urged to raise money for good causes. The Yorkshire Post is supporting the 10k event, which this year is on Sunday, June 21, as a media partner. More details about the run can be obtained on www.runforall.com.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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