Leeds 10K: Huge turnout 'would have delighted Jane'

Her sister Mary Goward said it was a really good day to remember the fundraiser who created the event and all the things that inspired her.

"It's not a sad day for us, it's a time to look at all the work that has gone in and the momentum that has been created," she said.

"She would be delighted at the big turnout and the atmosphere. Everybody has just cheered us on. It's good to see all the people in character costumes and those with their own challenges."

Standing at the finish line with a big grin was Mrs Tomlinson's husband Mike. He clapped as friends, family and complete strangers made it home.

Watching the faces flash by, these are moments of joy for him and are the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes work by a dedicated team of individuals.

"I am absolutely overwhelmed today, just seeing the faces of people coming through the finishing line," he said.

"Look at the choice expressions on their faces. People are punching the air, screaming, shouting and there are an awful lot of first timers."

Mr Tomlinson said he was delighted that people from Yorkshire and beyond – runners and non-runners among them – had taken the 10k events to their collective heart.

"We sold just short of 10,000 places, which is around the same number as last year; not bad considering the recession. We have had a lot more corporate teams this year, up from 200 people to 600 people, so that's good. We have a couple of really big corporate teams – 180 from Leeds Rhinos and 100 from Taskmasters."

The next milestone for him will come in about 2012 when the target of 5m is reached.

"Then we will have another party," he joked. "We are only allowed a party when we have reached a significant milestone. Our last party was seven years ago so we are due another one."

He also thanked the hundreds of volunteers who made the event run smoothly.

"It's a perfect event which is growing and getting a higher profile. Everything is stepping in the right direction.

"When I wander around the course I recognise so many of the people who do so much for the event."

Yesterday, there was no shortage of weird and wonderful costumes, with cartoon characters, super heroes, Smurfs and furry animals among them.

Friends Ben Turner and Daniel Smith, both 15, from Leeds, wore purple tutus, leggings and T-shirts as they raised money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre in Leeds, where Ben's mum works as a matron.

Joe Mortimer, 18, from Denby Dale, Huddersfield, dressed up as a Smurf to raise money for Sheffield's Weston Park Hospital cancer charity where his friend Tom's father, Chris Harris, 48, who also ran yesterday, is being treated for prostate cancer.

Dressing down in a skimpy one-piece swimsuit favoured by comedy film character Borat were friends Jamie Legat, 30, Darren Clark, 31, and Gareth Thorpe, 29, from Mexborough, South Yorkshire, who were raising cash for the children's heart surgery fund at Leeds General Infirmary.

Also dressed as super heroes were Clare Harris, 24, Mike Gray, 20, and Pamela Smith, all from Bingley, near Bradford, who raised around 400 for the Little Heroes local charity which works with children with cancer, buying toys and paying for trips.

As the last few people crossed the line to the tune of Final Countdown by Europe, Mike Tomlinson summed up: "Whether you are a runner or a marshall, it feels like being part of one big family, it's that kind of event."

Facts and figures about 'one of England's top 10ks'

The race was founded by the late Jane Tomlinson and her family in 2007 to stand as her fundraising legacy.

It had raised more than 2m before the 2010 event yesterday.

More than 11,000 litres of water were drunk on race day.

More than 7,000 biscuits were eaten by runners on the course.

Up to 100 charities were represented, including The Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

There were more than 10,000 registered entries this year, with nearly 7,000 taking part.

There were 640 corporate runners.

The 2009 event raised 300,000 for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal and the Leeds 10K partner charities – Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, Macmillan, Martin House Children's Hospice, the children's medical charity Sparks and Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

This year the Leeds 10K will also be televised for Channel Five and will be the focus of a special hour-long programme, to be aired at 10am on July 10.

The success of the Leeds 10K has led to the creation of Jane Tomlinson's York 10K, which is now in its second year and also the Hull

10K and Pennine Lancashire 10K.

The Leeds 10K was this year named as one of the 'Top Ten 10ks to run' in England.