Press Release - London Marathon - 3/15/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 Famous faces join Spirit of London at the 
                    2018 Virgin Money London Marathon

15/03/2018

The 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon has arguably its most star-studded 
elite field ever and a stellar list of famous runners will celebrate the 
Spirit of London on Sunday 22 April.

Among those famous faces taking part in the Virgin Money London Marathon 
are The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes and comedian Joel Dommett who are 
both running for the 2018 Charity of the Year, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Katie Price last took part in the London Marathon in 2009 but she will make 
an emotional return this year as she runs to raise money for the British 
Lung Foundation - the charity that is caring for her terminally ill mum 
Amy.

A whole host of BBC Radio DJs will be among the thousands of participants 
this year, headed up by Radio 2's breakfast show presenter Chris Evans who 
is again running for BBC Children In Need.

BBC Radio 1's Adele Roberts, who ran her first London Marathon last year, 
is running again and will be on hand to offer some last-minute advice to 
her colleagues Scott Mills and Dev Griffin who are making their debuts. All 
three are running for Heads Together.

After watching his daughter, Megan, complete the London Marathon last year, 
Gordon Ramsay makes a return to the streets of London and he will be 
running alongside his wife Tana and their twins Jack and Holly. They are 
raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

There is a further culinary theme to this year's event with a Baker's Dozen 
of former Great British Bake Off contestants taking part including Series 4 
winner Frances Quinn and Selasi Gbormittah.

Golden Globe nominated actress Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire Fraser in 
Outlander is running to raise funds for Children With Cancer while Bertie 
Carvel (The Old Vic), Hollyoaks actor Davinia Taylor (Mind), Gogglebox's 
Baasit Siddiqui (Cash for Kids) and BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth will also 
be on the Start Line.

As usual, there will be a whole host of sportsmen and women lining up to 
take on the marathon including former England footballer and current 
Southend United manager Chris Powell (Prostate Cancer UK) and Olympic 
medallists Hannah MacLeod (Beat Eating Disorders), Chris Newton (Anthony 
Nolan), Cassie Patten, Mel Wilson (SportsAid), Alex Partridge (SportsAid) 
and Iwan Thomas (Macmillan Cancer Support).

Rugby League legends Keith Senior (The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust) and 
Kevin Sinfield (Prostate Cancer UK) plus union favourite Shane Williams 
(Velindre Cancer Care) are back for another year as is Paralympic champion 
Danny Crates (SportsAid) while former European and Commonwealth boxing 
champion Rendall Munroe (Bodie Hodges Foundation) will be making his debut.

Jonathan Pearce and Charlie Webster are usually on the other side of the 
camera interviewing the sports stars but they both return to the London 
Marathon.

BBC Match of the Day commentator Pearce is running his sixth London 
Marathon for The Lily Foundation while Webster is running for Malaria No 
More - a charity very close to her heart. The sports presenter nearly died 
of the disease in Rio de Janeiro after completing a 3,000-mile bike ride 
from the UK to Brazil in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics.

2018 Virgin Money London Marathon Celebrity Runners: Full List

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