Coronation Street actors prepare to take on the Great Manchester Run 10k for a good cause

Among the thousands of runners set to participate in this year’s Great Manchester Run 10k are two Coronation Street actors, who will be running to raise money for special causes.

The Great Manchester Run 10k will take place alongside the half marathon on Sunday 26 May in and around Manchester city centre. 

One of Coronation Street’s biggest stories over the past 12 months has focused on Peter Ash’s character Paul, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year. MND is a rare degenerative disease that affects the nerves and currently there is no cure. 

As well as raising awareness on-screen through the storyline, Peter has also been working closely with the MND Association, a charity dedicated to MND research and providing care to the people affected by it. 

Peter told ManchesterWorld: “The character I play, he's currently living with MND, so we've been heavily involved with the association. I just thought this was an amazing opportunity to raise some money and awareness for them.”

Although he has some experience with running 10k races, it’s been a while since his last one. When ManchesterWorld spoke to Paul at a meet-up organised by the event’s sponsors AJ Bell in late April, he hadn’t started training in earnest. 

He said: “I did it last year, before then it was 10 years ago, so this will be my third time doing it - so I'm not a connoisseur by any means. It's hard finding the time to do it. This little run that we're doing today is probably going to be my first bit of training actually for next month, which sounds terrible I know. It's great, I'm going to have to knock up the training a notch, be prepared for that.”

Also running will be fellow actor Daniel Jillings, known for the 2020 war film Enemy Lines and a recurring role as PC Brody in Coronation Street. He told ManchesterWorld: “I did it last year as well, I've done it quite a few times. I just really enjoy it, it's a great day, the atmosphere is brilliant. It's just an all round good day.”

Daniel will be raising money for Once Upon a Smile, which he co-founded in 2011. He explained: “It's a dedicated children's bereavement centre we've built in Greater Manchester in Trafford. It's a children's charity that provides bereavement support for children to enable them to understand and express in a fun and safe environment.”

Like Peter, was also yet to get in the swing of training when we caught up with him.

“I'm not going to have to notch up the training, I'm going to have to start because I've done absolutely nothing so far. But we'll be alright, won't we?” he asked Peter. 

And Peter’s response: “Just think of the pub!” 

The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run half marathon and 10k will be taking place on 26 May, 2024. The half marathon is sold out but there are still 10k places. More information about the races, including how to sign up, can be found on the Great Manchester Run website.