Actor Adam Woodyatt announced he will run four half marathons over consecutive weekends to raise money for Bart's Charity, which supports groundbreaking medical research and healthcare projects across East London. The initiative is in gratitude to the Royal London Hospital, where his son, Sam, received life-saving treatment.
Ten years ago, on September 29, 2016, Sam Woodyatt, then 18, was struck by a car traveling at 56 mph in a 30 mph zone while crossing a road in Mile End. The incident resulted in severe, life-threatening injuries, including a fractured vertebra and a shattered pelvis. Sam was confined to a wheelchair for two months and required an emergency airlift to the hospital, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma for several days. Surgeons performed a five-hour operation to rebuild his hip. He also sustained a significant head injury and experienced memory loss.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Sam made a full recovery, relearning to walk and eventually completing a marathon. Woodyatt expressed his profound gratitude for his son's survival and the care provided by the hospital.
Woodyatt's half marathon series will begin with the Shoreditch race on September 20, followed by events in Battersea and Victoria Park, culminating in the Royal Parks half marathon on October 11. He shared the news and his personal connection to the cause on Instagram, where fans offered messages of support and well wishes.
Woodyatt, known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, is also the father of a daughter, Jessica, with his ex-wife Beverley Sharp. The couple divorced in 2022 after 22 years of marriage.
