Time to reflect amid success of Jane’s weekend

What started as an idea soon after his wife’s tragic death while sitting above Settle in the countryside where they used to explore, this weekend became a reality.

More than 2,200 walkers packed out his home town yesterday for the sell-out Walk For All Festival, smashing all original targets and confirming it as an annual fixture that will bring huge economic benefits into the area.

But its success, for the Tomlinson family, is bittersweet.

As Mike told the Yorkshire Post yesterday, more than any other charity event held in her memory since her tragic death in 2007, Jane would have loved it.

“I never expected it would be like this,” he said. “It started as one of my ideas, many of which never amount to anything.

“I felt very sad on Saturday. I just felt as though Jane should have been here.

“I have never felt like that before an event.

“I have never felt sad about putting a run on. But especially with this one, it felt as though someone was missing.

“She would have loved this event and it just doesn’t seem right.”

Despite the heavy workload of running the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which include the Leeds 10k Run For All, held in June, and the recently launched Swim For All, Mike refuses to take credit for events when they are taking place.

But yesterday, his mother Alice, who waved 1,000 walkers off the starting line of the 14-mile route alongside her son, was bursting with pride at his achievement.

“Mike’s grandfather and even his great grandfather are from Settle and they would have been very proud to have seen all these people here and the good that is being done through the Tomlinson name,” said the 77-year-old, who still lives in Settle and walked the five-mile route yesterday.

“It was quite emotional looking at how many people the festival had brought here but I tried to block it out and get on with the job.

“I didn’t think so many people would end up coming especially as it is its first year – it is really good.

“I looked over the crowd and there was people of all ages and abilities and it gave me a lot of confidence about doing the walk.

“I thought if they can do it, I can do it.”

The runaway success of the Walk For Festival is being hailed by business and political leaders, residents and traders, with all accommodation within a 10-mile radius of the town booked up over the weekend.

Pubs were packed throughout the weekend and at one point yesterday morning, a queue for bacon sandwiches at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club, where walkers registered, stretched right around the pitch.

Gary Baines, 53, who has run the Sweet Corner shop in the market square for the past 22 years, was doing a roaring trade in Kendal Mint Cake, Yorkshire mixture and midget gems.

“Something like this makes a big difference,” he said.

“We have had people coming into Settle from all over the place this weekend and saying how nice it is.

“We would welcome them back.

“Mike knows the town and is from here and that makes a big difference – he has done a brilliant job.

“One of the best things going for Settle is its small independent shops, and this will help keep that going for a long time.”

The festival is also expected to make a significant contribution to the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which was set up by Jane to raise funds for cancer and children’s charities, and is now around the £4m mark due to the work of Mike and their three children, Steven, Rebecca and Suzanne.

Mike admits the strain of keeping the appeal going has taken its toll this year, with a family meeting called in February to decide whether or not to carry it on.

But he says the Walk For All Festival has added fresh impetus to the appeal and they are considering expanding it to a possible two-day event further down the line.

“The events season has now finished for us and this is a great way for it to come to an end this year,” he said.

“You need to get a chance to take a breath.

“I do need to do that but I am very conscious 2012 is around the corner.

“I will sit back to reflect one day, but when I do it will be to look back at Jane’s achievements not mine.”

THE average age of the walkers in yesterday’s Walk For All Festival was 42, the oldest being 81 and the youngest just nine months old.

While the majority of participants came from Leeds, more than 20 per cent, participants also travelled to the festival for the weekend from Penrith, Durham and Berkshire.

The fastest walker in the 26-mile route, Paul Dennison, 52, from Ilkley, completed the course in five hours and 45 minutes.

The Jane Tomlinson Appeal says far more women took part in the festival compared with those who took part in the Leeds 10k and York 10k runs and individually the walkers appeared to be raising more money.

The actual amount raised by the Walk For All Festival will not be announced for several months as it is still being collected.

Places for next year’s event, on August 19, are available from today through the website at www.walkforall.com.