Hollyoaks star hits the road for charity

You would think that being part of a soap broadcasted five nights a week would take up all your time, let alone energy.

However, John Pickard, who plays Dominic Reilly in Merseyside’s Hollyoaks, has been going above and beyond the call of duty by running two and a half marathons in aid of charity.

John, 32, ran the London and New York marathons, as well as the Great North Run, this year in aid of
The Prostate Cancer Charity and Leonard Cheshire Disability – and has been touched by issues both causes try to support.

He said: “My grandfather was at home with us for two years before he passed away and he had prostate cancer as well as living at home.”

As well as helping those with disabilities live a normal day-to-day life, Leonard Cheshire Disability also give support to families who look after loved ones dependant on them.

He said: “When the two charities approached me for the marathon I thought I’d support them as they don’t have the same high a profile as others – and any charity’s a good cause.

“Having been to a number of Cheshire centres I’ve seen the good they are doing first hand and I really like the people involved there. It really feels good to put a bit of effort into something that’s worthwhile. I was actually injured in London and I was in pain from around mile three.

“I would have pulled out but I had about £3,000 behind me for that race so the people you are running for just drive you on.”

That giving spirit is obviously in the blood as brother Nick, who plays on-screen brother Tony, has organised the cast’s charity football team – which has raised £300,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital over the last twelve years.

But John’s exploits this year have allowed him to do his own bit for charity.

“Someone suggested London after I had just completed the Great North Run [last year] and I thought why not, forgetting you had to train all through the winter.

“But then I just went on to do New York as it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to run around and see the different people and characters.”

As for training, John found the mental aspects were the major hurdles he needed to prepare for.

“I was talking to a woman in New York who had just run 40 marathons, and she said she hadn’t trained that much as she felt the balance was about 80 per cent mental preparation and only 20 per cent was physical. You just have to get used to being in that zone really.

“I’ve hit the wall a couple of times, for a few miles three quarters of the way through London and during about the 21st mile in New York.”

John now plans to train for a triathlon in June next year, but before that fans of the show can win a chance to spend the day with John, meet the cast and get an money-can't-buy look around the set.

To have a chance at winning all you need to do is donate £10 on John’s Just Giving page for the charities.