Actor George Rainsford – Ethan Hardy in BBC Television’s Casualty – is returning to his Yorkshire roots to take part in the Plusnet Leeds Half Marathon.
He will line up with thousands of other runners for the 31st running of the event on Sunday 8th May.
Huddersfield-born George, 33, who has also starred in BBC’s Call The Midwife, is no stranger to long-distance running, having completed the London Marathon in 2011 and four other marathons before his ‘homecoming’ run in Leeds.
He said: “I am really looking forward to returning to God’s own country for the Leeds Half Marathon.
“I know lots of spectators turn out to help create a great atmosphere and I’m sure such levels of support will help me and all the other runners get round the course.
“In a mass participation event like the Leeds Half, it is always inspiring to see so many people taking on the challenge for so many excellent charities.”
Rugby League will also be well represented in the field with former Leeds Rhinos stars Jamie Peacock, Barrie McDermott and Keith Senior all taking part.
The Leeds Half Marathon is organised by Run For All and forms part of the legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson, who completed a series of gruelling challenges to raise £1.8m for charity despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The route starts in The Headrow, in front of Leeds Town Hall, heads out of the city centre, takes in a section of the Ring Road and returns via Abbey Road and Kirkstall Road before finishing in Cookridge Street alongside Millennium Square.
Around 9,000 people signed up for last year’s half marathon raising £150,000 for the event’s partner charities alone. It is estimated that in total the 2015 event raised around £300,000 for good causes.
This year’s partner charities are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal; Martin House Children’s Hospice; Sue Ryder; St Gemma’s Hospice; Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice; Marie Curie; Overgate Hospice; CLIC Sargent, Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal and Macmillan Cancer Support.
