Swindon Archive News
Inspirations to the country receive awards from Swindon based building
society Nationwide
A Nationwide Award for Inspiration was presented to Michael at the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour event which took place at Lordıs Cricket Ground. Jane was unable to attend the ceremony following her recent participation in the UK Half Ironman event. Jane and Michael will also receive cheques from Nationwide which they will donate to the charities they support.
Jane Tomlinson was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago and a tumour in Jane's lung grew so large that it made her breathless. Then in August 2000 a scan revealed multiple secondary cancers and Jane's diagnosis was terminal.
However, despite the odds, Jane is determined to prove to others who are touched by cancer that life goes on and anything is possible with her outstanding achievements and fundraising. In April this year, Jane cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End on a tandem with her brother Luke Goward and then ran the London Marathon just two days later!
Michael Watson collapsed at the end of his super-middleweight contest
against Chris Eubank in September 1991. He underwent surgery to remove a
blood clot from his brain and remained in a coma for 40 days and was on the
verge of being certified clinically dead. When he left hospital in a
wheelchair he was unable to walk, talk or do anything for himself. He was
paralysed down his left side and lost half the function of his brain.
However, 11 years on, his spirit and determination propelled him back to the sporting arena. In April this year he walked the length of the London Marathon course, completing the 26.2 miles in six days, raising many thousands of pounds for charity.
Philip Williamson, Nationwide's chief executive, said, "Like the rest of the country, we at Nationwide have been amazed by both Jane's and Michael's tremendous charitable fundraising efforts and humbled by their indomitable spirit and courage in the face of overwhelming personal odds.
"We were truly inspired by their respective completions of this year's London Marathon and felt it only fitting that we should recognise their achievements."
Jane was unable to attend the ceremony following her participation in the UK Half Ironman event at Sherborne Castle, Dorset on Sunday 31 August. By doing this, she was the first terminally ill person to compete in an Ironman event, which comprises a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a half marathon.
Jane is donating her cheque to her own Jane's Appeal, which benefits four charities - Cancer Research UK, Hannah House (a care home in Leeds), The Paediatric Acute Services at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust (where Jane is a radiographer) and Sparks (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids).
Michael is splitting the proceeds of his cheque equally between the Brain and Spine Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
There are four award categories in the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour:
From each region and home nation, four finalists are selected to attend the national gala awards ceremony (held this year at Lords Cricket Ground). Each finalist (who is not an overall winner) wins £250 of gifts, and a trophy plus a £500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice.
Finally, at the awards ceremony the four national winners are announced one in each category. They each receive £500 worth of gifts, together with a £2,500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice and a trophy.
Jane Tomlinson receiving the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in December.
Intrepid fundraiser Jane Tomlinson and former boxer Michael Watson received special awards from Nationwide Building Society at a ceremony on 3 September which recognises local heroes from around the UK.A Nationwide Award for Inspiration was presented to Michael at the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour event which took place at Lordıs Cricket Ground. Jane was unable to attend the ceremony following her recent participation in the UK Half Ironman event. Jane and Michael will also receive cheques from Nationwide which they will donate to the charities they support.
Jane Tomlinson was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago and a tumour in Jane's lung grew so large that it made her breathless. Then in August 2000 a scan revealed multiple secondary cancers and Jane's diagnosis was terminal.
However, despite the odds, Jane is determined to prove to others who are touched by cancer that life goes on and anything is possible with her outstanding achievements and fundraising. In April this year, Jane cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End on a tandem with her brother Luke Goward and then ran the London Marathon just two days later!
Michael Watson collapsed at the end of his super-middleweight contest
against Chris Eubank in September 1991. He underwent surgery to remove a
blood clot from his brain and remained in a coma for 40 days and was on the
verge of being certified clinically dead. When he left hospital in a
wheelchair he was unable to walk, talk or do anything for himself. He was
paralysed down his left side and lost half the function of his brain.
However, 11 years on, his spirit and determination propelled him back to the sporting arena. In April this year he walked the length of the London Marathon course, completing the 26.2 miles in six days, raising many thousands of pounds for charity.
Philip Williamson, Nationwide's chief executive, said, "Like the rest of the country, we at Nationwide have been amazed by both Jane's and Michael's tremendous charitable fundraising efforts and humbled by their indomitable spirit and courage in the face of overwhelming personal odds.
"We were truly inspired by their respective completions of this year's London Marathon and felt it only fitting that we should recognise their achievements."
Jane was unable to attend the ceremony following her participation in the UK Half Ironman event at Sherborne Castle, Dorset on Sunday 31 August. By doing this, she was the first terminally ill person to compete in an Ironman event, which comprises a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a half marathon.
Jane is donating her cheque to her own Jane's Appeal, which benefits four charities - Cancer Research UK, Hannah House (a care home in Leeds), The Paediatric Acute Services at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust (where Jane is a radiographer) and Sparks (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids).
Michael is splitting the proceeds of his cheque equally between the Brain and Spine Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
There are four award categories in the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour:
- Young people under 18 as individuals,
- Young people under 18 in groups,
- Adults as individuals &
- Adults in groups.
From each region and home nation, four finalists are selected to attend the national gala awards ceremony (held this year at Lords Cricket Ground). Each finalist (who is not an overall winner) wins £250 of gifts, and a trophy plus a £500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice.
Finally, at the awards ceremony the four national winners are announced one in each category. They each receive £500 worth of gifts, together with a £2,500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice and a trophy.
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