THOUSANDS of people will be stepping forward for charity tomorrow when they take part in the Bupa Great South Run.

Joggers from across Southampton will be joined by celebrities and former athletes, such as Olympic silver-medal winner Iwan Thomas who will be running for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The star of Outnumbered, comedian Hugh Dennis will also be at the starting line along with soap stars from Casualty, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Twenty-five thousand people are expected to line the streets as the course winds its way through Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard.

Founder and creative director of Bestival, Josie da Bank, is competing for the first time, raising money for the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

After suffering a road accident 24 years ago, Graham Hastie will march in the run in memory of his mum, June, who died last year.

The 46-year-old from Ringwood hopes to raise more than £500 for Diabetes UK, Bupa UK's charity partner.

Jo Green has been fighting a rare form of cancer for 15 years but will take part in the Great South Run again this year.

The 37-year-old will be running for Southampton based charity, PLANETS, which is dedicated to defeating pancreas, liver and neuroendocrine tumours.

She said: “You never think you will hear the words 'you have cancer' and it's tough to wake up in the morning with that knowledge.

“I appreciate life and health and the people around me more than ever, and my illness has given me a different perspective on life. I know what is important and what isn't.”

Graham Emery – a senior sales executive at Southampton-based firm Dolphin Motorhomes – will again don a giant Gingerbread Man costume to raise money for the Rose Road Association.

Hampshire couple Stacey Olsen and Jon Page will lace up their running shoes in support of Alzheimer's Research UK.

Stacey, 22, from Totton, and her boyfriend Jon, 27, from West Wellow, are both running in memory of their grandmothers, who both died from the degenerative disease last year.

Jon said: “Alzheimer's disease is a horrible thing to go through, both for the person with it and for their families. If we can do anything to help prevent other people being affected by it, we will.”

Property developer and keen sportsman Stuart Munro from Compton will be taking on the ten-mile run for the second time in support of Children with Cancer UK.

The father-of-two said: “I ran it last year and I'm looking forward to doing it again. I was delighted to have raised the money for this fantastic charity.”

One hundred staff and carers from Hampshire County Council have signed up for the runto promote the council's fostering service wearing special pink and orange vests.

Simon Williamson is taking part in the Great South Run as he makes his way towards 100 marathons.

The former Trojans rugby player has just finished his 12th marathon in just over a year and hopes to raise £2,000 for Parkinson’s UK before August 2015.

He initially turned to running in a bid to lose weight but, after losing four stone - dropping from 16st to 12st, he decided to keep on running.

  • To sponsor Graham Hastie visit www.justgiving.com/GRAHAM-HASTIE/
  • To sponsor Jo Green visit www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Green5.
  • To sponsor Graham Emery visit justgiving.com/dolphinGSR.
  • To support Amy Daniels’s cause, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AmyDanielsFundraising.
  • To sponsor Stacey Olsen and Jon Page, visit www.justgiving.com/staceyandpagey or text PGEY88 and amount (example PGEY88 £10) TO 70070. 
  • To sponsor Simon Williamson visit justgiving.com/simonjwilliamson.