Jamie and Emma, who play Honey and Jay in the BBC soap, are running alongside Adam Woodyatt, Jake Wood, Natalie Cassidy, Kellie Shirley, Tanya Franks and Jane Slaughter to raise money for the Dementia Revolution
DAME Barbara Windsor has told The Sun of her pride after eight of her closest EastEnders pals teamed up with her husband Scott Mitchell to run the London Marathon in her honour.
Adam Woodyatt, Jake Wood, Emma Barton, Natalie Cassidy, Kellie Shirley, Tanya Franks, Jamie Borthwick and Jane Slaughter will all take part in the iconic event on 28 April for the Dementia Revolution.
The campaign was created by dementia charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK for the event’s Charity of the Year.
Barbara, 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 and last May, bravely told her story to The Sun.
The group, who grew close to Barbara during her two-decade long reign on the BBC One soap, joined the Dementia Revolution in her honour and are working hard to raise £100,000 which will help fund ground-breaking research into the disease.
Barbara told The Sun: “It means so much to me to see some of my closest friends coming together to support this cause.
“And I know it will mean a lot to everyone else living with dementia.”
Our exclusive pictures show Scott putting some of the team through their paces at a running track in London.
Jamie led Kellie Shirley, who played Carly Wicks in the hit soap, around the track during the session, alongside Jane, who plays the Queen Vic's iconic barmaid Tracey.
Scott, 55, added: “It is such an amazing show of their love and friendship towards Barbara.
“It’s one thing to be friends with someone, but when people say that they’re going to give up their spare time and much needed days off and instead dedicate them to a cause that means so much, then that really is extraordinary.
“To both Barbara and me it’s so incredibly special.”
Speaking about Barbara’s diagnosis, he explained: “It’s not until it happens on your doorstep that you realise how devastating dementia is.
“There is still such a lack of awareness that surrounds the condition. I see it often with Barbara - people get very nervous around her and they don’t know how to react or what to say. “But it’s so important that we understand dementia.”
Actress Kellie added: “Barbara really is an inspirational woman.
“I’ve known her for 15 years now and she was my mentor when we worked together.
“I’m so proud to have joined the Dementia Revolution for Barbara and for all the other people that this is going to benefit.
“That will keep me going when it gets tough.”
Virgin Money London Marathon ballot place holders can sign-up to run for the Dementia Revolution and you can sponsor Barbara’s Revolutionaries .
