Eight EastEnders actors – running for their friend and former cast member Dame Barbara Windsor – lead the list of famous faces preparing to run the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 28 April.
Emma Barton, Jamie Borthwick, Natalie Cassidy, Tanya Franks, Kellie Shirley, Jane Slaughter, Jake Wood and Adam Woodyatt will join Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell and form ‘Barbara’s Revolutionaries’ who will be running to raise money for Dementia Revolution – the official Charity of the Year of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.
As ever, a number of sportsmen and women have been attracted to running the Virgin Money London Marathon.
French tennis star Amelie Mauresmo, a former winner of Wimbledon, has twice run the TCS New York City Marathon but this is the first time she has tackled the Virgin Money London Marathon.
Mauresmo, who won Wimbledon in 2006, also won the Australian Open during a fantastic career that also saw her reach Number One in the world rankings and win a total of 25 titles. After retiring from playing she began a coaching career that has seen her coach, among others, Great Britain’s Andy Murray.
Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Dani Rowe (Charity: Great Ormond Street Hospital) is taking on her first marathon. Rowe, who won gold in the team pursuit at the London 2012 Games, only retired from professional cycling last year. She has set herself the goal of completing the London Classics in her first year of retirement. The London Classics is a challenge to complete the Virgin Money London Marathon, Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 bike ride and the two mile distance at the Children with Cancer UK Swim Serpentine.
Ex-England international footballer Katy Chapman, who won 94 caps for her country, is running for Plan International UK while rugby league legend Jamie Peacock is taking on his second London Marathon for Sue Ryder.
Two of the country’s best known sports TV presenters are also tackling the 26.2 miles. Former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher is raising money for Safe Hands UK while Helen Skelton is doing her third London Marathon for Prostate Cancer UK.
Candice Brown, the 2018 winner of The Great British Bake Off, is running for Dementia Revolution, comedian Ed Gamble is raising money for JDRF while Cold Feet actor and BBC Radio 1 presenter Cel Spellman is taking on the 26.2 miles for the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
To see a full list of celebrity runners, click here.
