2008 Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame inductees announced

Jane Tomlinson, the courageous and inspirational women whose head on fight against cancer captured the hearts and minds of the nation, was one of the seven people inducted into the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame last night in Gateshead.

The Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame was established to honour individuals who, over the years, have made a special contribution to the world famous Bupa Great North Run.

Brendan Foster, who presented Jane's widower Mike and children, Steven and Rebecca, with the Hall of Fame plaque, said: "Jane was a lovely Yorkshire woman, with the most incredible determination and spirit. She declared war on the cancer and her secret weapon proved to be running. Jane's remarkable efforts raised over £1.8 million for charity over 7 years of fighting the disease. Sadly she lost her battle with cancer last September but Jane's legacy lives on with her family's continuing work for her charity."

The full list of inductees into the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame are as follows:-

Grete Waitz
Grete Waitz is a true pioneer of women's distance running. The 4th Great North Run in 1984 saw the Norwegian legend cut six minutes off the previous best time. On her second visit to Tyneside in 1988 she set a UK all comers' record for the half marathon distance in the Great North Run slashing 56 seconds off Australian, Lisa Martin's course record.

Consultant Mr Richard Sainsbury and Dr. Chris Vallis
The welfare of runners has always been at the centre of the Great North Run's organising team. Consultant Mr Richard Sainsbury and Dr Chris Vallis have been on hand throughout the years to provide the highest level of medical expertise and professionalism to the 1000's of runners that have taken part in the Great North Run.

John Bird and Mike Neville
John Bird - Look North's Editor in 1981 and iconic front man Mike Neville helped create one of the best success stories ever - The Great North Run... The BBC Newcastle office offered to process all the entry forms but they can never have anticipated the deluge that began to arrive.

But John, Mike and the team were true to their word and recruited their own army of helpers to deal with the sackfuls of mail. So Mike Neville was the logical choice to be the official starter of that first race.

Kath Scott
Great North Run volunteer Kath Scott has been at the finishing line since year one. She's probably seen every runner through the finish system! Her leadership abilities, calmness, sense of poise, thoroughness and commitment are an example to us all.

Jane Tomlinson
Jane Tomlinson, the courageous and inspirational women whose head on fight against cancer captured the hearts and minds of the nation, was one of the seven people inducted into the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame last night in Gateshead. Sadly she lost her battle with cancer last September but Jane's legacy lives on with her family's continuing work for her charity.