Jane's charity race raised £500k

Jane Tomlinson launched the first race with her son Stephen

The inaugural 10km (6.2 mile) race named after charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson through the streets of Leeds raised more than £500,000 for charity.

At the launch of the 2008 event her widower Mike said his wife would have been thrilled by its success.

More than £300,000 will go to Jane's Appeal and associated charities, while race organisers said £200,000 had been raised for runners' individual causes.

Within hours of the 2008 list opening nearly 4,000 places had been filled.

Mike Tomlinson was joined at the launch of the second race by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Nell McAndrew and rugby player Tim Stimpson.

Mrs Tomlinson died in September after a seven-year battle with cancer.

She had raised more than £1.75m for charity thorough a series of marathons and endurance events in Britain and America.

Jane was so happy to have been part of it last year Mike Tomlinson

Although unable to take part in the first race to bear her name, the mother-of-three started the run and joined thousands of other spectators to watch as more than 8,000 runners and walkers took to the streets Leeds in June.

Mr Tomlinson said: "The 2007 event was such an incredible success and Jane was so happy to have been part of it last year and she would have been thrilled to know that it raised £500,000 for charity.

He continued: "The date of 22 June, 2008 will be an incredibly poignant day for me and the children.

"[It will be] One which will hopefully see a celebration of Jane's life and also a day when many people achieve their personal goal, whether running, walking or wheeling, volunteering to make it happen or cheering people on."

The 2008 event, sponsored by supermarket chain Morrison's, will be open to up to 12,000 competitors and hopes to attract more then 50,000 spectators.