Corrie's Sally Ann Matthews completes major challenge for charity

Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has completed a whopping 50 five kilometre runs in aid of five charities.

The self-confessed sports-phobe, who plays Jenny Connor in the ITV soap, set herself the challenge to complete her first 5K in the lead up to her 50th birthday in 2020.

After succeeding in her first run, she decided to keep going and complete 50 5K runs over the course of a year to raise money for five different charities.

This week (November 24), she finished her final run outside the Coronation Street set in Media City, joined by her Corrie co-stars and production team to celebrate the milestone.

Plank PR

In a statement, Sally Ann said: "I always thought of myself as a running joke rather than a runner, but having done the first 5k I thought how great it would be to keep going, get fit in the process and more importantly raise some funds for well deserving charities.

"A huge thank you to everyone who donated and sent me messages of support, it's all helped to keep me pounding the pavements."

So far, she has raised over £7,000 (with Gift Aid) for charity for theatre workers Acting For Others, Action Against Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF), sports injury charity The Matt Hampson Foundation and the RNLI.

Todd Grimshaw actor Gareth Pierce virtually ran the final 5K with her, and a number of other Corrie co-stars joined her to run the final race.

Others sent video messages of support on Instagram to cheer her over the finish line, including her co-stars Abi Franklin actress Sally Carman, Toyah Battersby actress Georgia Taylor, Andrea Beckett actor Hayley Tamaddon, Sophie Webster actor Brooke Vincent, and Faye Windass actor Ellie Leach.

View full post on Instagram

Craig Tinker actor Colson Smith, Asha Alahan actor Tanisha Gorey, Amy Barlow actress Elle Mulvaney, Summer Spellman actor Harriet Bibby, Rita Tanner actress Barbara Knox and Mary Taylor star Patti Clark also sent in their congratulations.

Other celebrities, including I'm a Celebrity winner Joe Pasquale, Good Morning Britain editor Richard Arnold, I'm a Celebrity contestant and EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt, and This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford also sent in videos wishing her luck for her 50th run.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm on ITV.