Celebrities Join Tens of Thousands in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run

It’s just over three weeks to go until the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run and among the tens of thousands of participants taking part are a host of celebrities running the AJ Bell Great Manchester 10k.

Heading from the cobbles to the Portland Street start line are a group of Corrie stars. This year we’re pleased to welcome Harriet Bibby, Calum Lill, Adam Hussain, Peter Ash, Elle Mulvaney, Channique Sterling Brown, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan.

Lacing up their trainers to join them from the Yorkshire village of Emmerdale, are stars Isabel Hodgins, and Danny Miller. Danny Miller will also be joined by his good friend and Co-Founder of their charity Once Upon a Smile, Daniel Jillings.

Gemma Atkinson, radio host is running with a group of friends, as well as alongside her Hits Radio, co-presenter Mike Toolan – who will also run with son, Luca Toolan, Corrie star.

Jaz Singh, finalist from this year’s The Traitors will be trading in his detective hat for trainers to run the 10k in search of a PB.

Peter Ash, Coronation Street actor is running the Great Manchester 10k to fundraise for the MND Association, a cause he’s representing through his character, Paul on Corrie. Peter said: “I’m running for the MND Association, the character I play on Coronation Street, Paul, has Motor neurone disease (MND) so we’ve been doing a storyline about that. I thought it would be a great opportunity to raise some money for them.

Caption: Coronation Street stars get ready for the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run with a photo on the cobbles. (L-R: Elle Mulvaney, Luca Toolan, Channique Sterling-Brown, Colson Smith, and Calum Lill).

“I took part in the Great Manchester 10k last year, and it took me 1hr and 16 mins, so if I beat that this year, I’ll be happy with that. Running is quite freeing, it’s a great atmosphere on the day, you get everyone cheering you on through town and it really picks you up.”

Gemma Atkinson, actress, radio host, podcast presenter & author is running with a group of friends, as well as alongside her Hits Radio, co-presenter Mike Toolan. Gemma is also using the 10k as an opportunity to challenge herself ahead of turning 40 this year, while fundraising for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.

Gemma said: “I’ve been president of Bleakholt for a long time now. So I’ve seen first-hand what the staff and volunteers do to keep us going.

“We rely solely on donations and at the minute our vet bills are extremely high. February alone was £38,000 in veterinary fees as so many animals are brought in to us in bad condition.
“It means a lot to me to be able to help my local animal sanctuary. They are wonderful!”

Daniel Jillings, actor and Once Upon a Smile co-founder, said: “I’m running with my good mate, Danny Miller, who is also a co-founder of children’s bereavement charity Once Upon a Smile.

“We are based in Manchester but we’re national and provide children’s bereavement support – we’re self-funded so events like the Great Manchester Run are important for us to raise awareness and gives people who want to fundraise for us the chance to take part also.

“Running is just a good motivator to get up and do something, if you’ve got a target to raise money for charity, you’ve got a cause and something to achieve by getting up off the sofa and out and about.”

Jaz Singh, The Traitors Season 2 Finalist, said: “I’m a huge advocate of running, it’s all about resilience, and picking yourself up with a strong mentality. Life is difficult and full of challenges but if you can run and get through things, you’re really setting a metaphor for life.

“People are taking part in the Great Manchester Run for phenomenal causes and my advice is to just embrace the moment, enjoy it and not be too hard on yourself.”

Luca Toolan, Coronation Street actor, added: “the power of running to me is the community feeling, it’s that feel good feeling of everybody coming together to do something difficult for a good cause.”

We can’t wait to welcome all of our inspiring participants on Sunday, 26 May. The half marathon distance is sold out, but there limited 10k places left. If you want to sign up you’ll need to be quick, as there are less than 1000 places left and we expect it to sell out soon! Sign up here.