IRON-willed triple amputee soldier Andy Reid will lead a host of big names – including stars from the worlds of sport and entertainment - competing in the GPW Legal Services St Helens 10K.

Inspirational Reid, who walked more than a mile of the course last year on his prosthetic legs, is learning to move on carbon fibre blades similar to those used by high profile South African athlete Oscar Pistorious.

He has been learning to use them at the Headley Court rehabilitation centre, in Surrey, and hopes to run some part of the course in a field that will also likely to include Commonwealth middleweight boxing champion Martin Murray from Fingerpost; Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, and Heather Marie McHale, the St Helen-based wartime tribute singer.

Cancer battler Steve Prescott, who will be joined on the course by wife Linzi, will head a contingent of former Saints players that also includes Paul Sculthorpe, John Stankevitch and Anthony Sullivan.

Members of the current squad also intend showing their support in some way, though they cannot commit to competing because of the Super League season.

Organisers are hoping to attract more well known women from media and sporting circles, and hope to confirm entries in coming weeks.

Prescott’s Foundation is once again organising the event and the charity’s team this week confirmed a route for the course that will start and finish at Saints’ Langtree Park.

So far more than 400 runners have signed up – and organisers believe they are in line to significantly improve upon the 700 people who entered the inaugural event last year.

News of Corporal Reid’s mission to step up his involvement in the run, some two and a half years since he survived an IED blast in Afghanistan, is likely to inspire more people to take part.

The 35-year-old, whose profile performing motivational speeches to businesses and organisations is growing, told the Star: “I’m setting myself the goal of taking part and hope to beat the 2km I did last year.

“The blades take up a lot of energy and it’s early days learning to use them - so I’m not making any promises. But I will see how I get on and I may even cycle part of the course too.”

Meanwhile, Kelvin, who plays Andy Sugden in the long running soap, will take part on behalf of the HoneyRose Foundation, the charity which provides memorable days for terminally ill adults.

Founder Lynne Duffy said: “The Star ran a story recently about Marie Hurst, who is battling cancer and we sent her to meet Kelvin. He had a meal with her and she was thrilled to bits. Kelvin actually works with a lot of different charities.

“What we need now is to get more runners to join Kelvin.”

Once again members of your St Helens-based Star team will be taking part in the event and raising funds for the event’s charities.

Meanwhile, details of the route have been confirmed by the Steve Prescott Foundation. It will start from Langtree Park, head over the Saints Way bridge and through St Helens town centre up to the dreaded North Road Hill, take in part of Victoria Park and then return to the stadium.