Celebrities Run For Charity In London Marathon

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Tens of thousands of people pulled on their running shoes and sweated their way through the annual London marathon yesterday, including a number of celebrities who were competing for charity.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was one of many who lined up at the start for his 10th time at the event. He ran once again for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association, an organization that supports, listens to and helps children, adults and families with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and related conditions.

“It’s time for a celebration,” he said. “We’re fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch.”

Also competing were British model Katie Price and husband Peter André, who ran for children’s charity Vision and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

“I don’t think you can ever be prepared for the marathon,” said Price, who raised over £250,000 for her charity. “It’s not a normal distance to run.”

“We’ve done the training,” added André. “Physically we may be up for it but I think psychologically is where we struggle.”

Other celebrities to take part included Boyzone singers Keith Duffy, who ran for autism awareness, and Ronan Keating – who ran for Cancer Research UK – as well as British cyclist Chris Boardman, who won gold in the 1992 Olympics and ran for The National Autistic Society, and weather girl Isobel Lang and 2002 Big Brother winner Kate Lawler, who competed for Cancer Research UK.

Last year’s event raised £46.7 million for charity.

Boyzone Singer Speaks Out About Autism

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Irish singer Keith Duffy from Boyzone is to run the London Marathon this year to raise money for the National Autistic Society (NAS) and Special Provision for the Education of Autistic Children (SPEAC).

“I’m really excited to be running for the NAS,” said the actor and singer, whose daughter, Mia, has the condition. “As the parent of a child with autism, I know what a difference the right support can make. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to get Mia the support she needed, but many other families aren’t so lucky.”

Duffy spoke to the BBC about his experiences in raising his daughter as part of the Cause Celeb series, in which stars talk about issues close to their heart.

“It was very difficult and was a strain on our relationship,” he said. “You go into denile… [you say] ’You’re wrong, there’s nothing wrong with my child’.”

Mia is now 9 and has been placed into a mainstream school through Applied Behavioural Analysis, a specialised individualised program in which major goals are broken down into smaller achievable ones.

The London Marathon takes place on April 26. To watch Keith Duffy talk about how he coped when his daughter was diagnosed with autism, click here.

Look To The Stars News: National Autistic Society

Celebrities Run For Charity In London Marathon

Related past articles

Boyzone Singer Speaks Out About Autism

Related past articles