Coronation Street star Millie Gibson swapped the Weatherfield Cobbles for the streets of Manchester city centre as she took part in the Manchester 10K for Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
Millie, who plays Kelly Neelan in Corrie, completed the Great Manchester Run for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation following the soap’s harrowing hate crime storyline inspired by the real-life story of goth Sophie Lancaster who was murdered in 2007.
The 17-year-old raised more that £1,500 for the charity which educates and provides training in order to tackle hate crime.
Also taking part in the run, setting off on Portland Street and passing through to Manchester United’s football ground, was former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas.
(Image: Instagram)
The foundation worked with the ITV soap on a story centred on goth character Nina Lucas and her boyfriend Seb Franklin who were victims of an unprovoked attack because of her physical appearance.
The story mirrored the experiences of Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby who were attacked back by a group of youths in a park.
Sophie died from her injuries 13 days after the attack at the age of 20. Millie’s character Kelly was among the gang that chased after Nina and Seb.
She was recently jailed for murder after being framed by vile ringleader Corey Brent for the attack on Seb, who died a day later in hospital after being repeatedly kicked.
(Image: Instagram)
Reflecting on the storyline, Millie recently said of her character Kelly and her involvement in the storyline: “I think since she started showing more vulnerability and her actual true colours, rather than just this cocky teen, then people have started to soften towards her,” she said.
“She’s in a really dark place and people will see it’s not just an act.”
The annual race, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, was started by Manchester United star Jesse Lingard with NHS workers.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council and one of the honorary starters of the 10k race, said the event was very important to the city.
Great Run organisers said Manchester was “buzzing”
Marc Scott came first in the elite men’s race with a time of 28:03 and Eilish McColgan won this year’s elite women race in a time of 30:52.
McColgan said: “I’m over the moon. I ran a [personal best] and only [three] seconds off the course record so I can’t ask for anymore.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
