Mrs Tomlinson, from Leeds, who raised £1.75 million for charity, died at St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds, at 9pm yesterday.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago, and underwent a mastectomy to have the lymph nodes under her arms removed.

In 2000 the cancer spread to her bones and lungs and she was told the cancer was terminal. But she defied her illness - and often doctors’ orders - to dedicate her life to raising money for charity.

Today, her husband, Mike, and children, Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven paid tribute to their wife and mother.

In a statement they said: “We are as a family heartbroken at this loss but we know this extends to all her family and friends.

Jane with her son Steven outside the British Embassy in Washington

“Jane has always said her family has been the greatest joy in life and we feel honoured to have been blessed with such a wonderful person.”

They added: “The weight of this burden has been immense on all of us, but primarily Jane. We hope that she is now at peace from the pain that has accompanied her for so long.”

Over the last five years, Jane undertook a series of endurance events to raise money for charity, including The Great North Run and The New York and London Marathons. She was the first person ever to run a marathon whilst being treated for chemotherapy.

We are as a family heartbroken at this loss but we know this extends to all her family and friends

Mike Tomlinson

Her last - and toughest - challenge was a 4,200-mile bike ride across America, from San Francisco to New York, enduring temperatures of more than 100F and altitudes of more than 11,000ft along the way.

She received a CBE for her work in June this year, and in the same month looked on as 8,000 runners took to the streets of Leeds for her Run for All fundraising event.