Hollyoaks Stars Marathon Effort for Charity
Author: LCDisability
Published: 2009/02/18 - Updated: 2009/02/27
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: Four of the stars of teen drama Hollyoaks will take on the Flora London Marathon for charity.
Introduction
Four of the stars of Channel Four's teen drama, Hollyoaks, will be swapping their hair straighteners and designer outfits for running vests and trainers as they prepare to take on the Flora London Marathon. John Pickard, Junade Khan, Nicole Barber-Lane and Loui Batley, who play Dom, Ash, Myra and Sarah respectively, will be hoping to raise vital funds with every step of the 26-mile feat for their chosen charities.Main Content
Four of the stars of Channel Four's teen drama, Hollyoaks, will be swapping their hair straighteners and designer outfits for running vests and trainers as they prepare to take on the Flora London Marathon.
John Pickard, Junade Khan, Nicole Barber-Lane and Loui Batley, who play Dom, Ash, Myra and Sarah respectively, will be hoping to raise vital funds with every step of the 26-mile feat for their chosen charities, Leonard Cheshire Disability, The Prostate Cancer Charity and Whizz-Kidz.
John Pickard and Junade Khan, who play heart throbs Dom and Ash, will both be running for Leonard Cheshire Disability, which supports disabled people to live life their way and campaigns to change attitudes to disability.
John said: "I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Marathon; not only is it a huge physical challenge for me, but it's for a cause close to my heart, having visited one of Leonard Cheshire Disability's services in Merseyside, I know what a difference the right support can make to the lives of disabled people."
Junade said: "Leonard Cheshire Disability's a great charity that I'm keen to support and I can't wait to complete the London Marathon!"
Nicole who plays Myra, the loud and proud mother to the McQueen brood, will be running for The Prostate Cancer Charity, the UK's leading charity working with people affected by the disease.
Nicole said: "I ran the marathon last year, two days after my dad had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and I happened to bump into a girl dressed as a pink fairy who was running for The Prostate Cancer Charity. I took it as a sign and this year I will run for the Charity and for my dad. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. 35,000 men are diagnosed with the disease every year, and one man dies every hour. The Prostate Cancer Charity funds research, campaigns, provides support and information and raises awareness. It's a great charity and I really want to help raise as much money as I can for them."
Loui Batley, who plays man-eater Sarah in the soap and her real life boyfriend, Simon Lawson, have chosen Whizz-Kidz as their charity. Whizz-Kidz gives young wheelchair-users independence through customized equipment, such as powered wheelchairs, and training.
Loui said: "It's a common joke among my friends that I can't even walk to the end of the road without breaking into a sweat but you can bet your life I'll make it to the end of the finishing line and hopefully without my boyfriend having to carry me! Whizz-Kidz is an amazing charity and I'll be thinking of my goal every step of the way."
The Flora London Marathon is expecting 46,500 runners to take part. This year, it is celebrating its 29th anniversary. The race begins at Blackheath, Shooters Hill Road for ballot runners and Greenwich Park, Charlton Way for Golden Bond runners. The course takes runners past many famous London landmarks including the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, St Katharine's Dock, Billingsgate Market, Cleopatra's Needle, Parliament Square and Big Ben. It finishes at The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. The run is 26.2 miles long.
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and works in 52 countries. We campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way.