Lorraine Kelly, Sir Steve Redgrave, Gordon Ramsay and Blazin' Squad are all leading a campaign which aims to get 20,000 families across the UK fit and active. The FLORA Family Marathon, designed to get the nation up and running, encourages families to complete their own marathon by dividing the 26.2 mile distance between them.

To help them with their challenge, the celebrities and their families will be leading the initiative and acting as Celebrity Marathon "buddies". Participating families will be invited to nominate one of these to be their very own celebrity buddy, whom they will receive SMS and email training tips and hints from throughout their training. Each family will also receive a pedometer and plenty of fitness and nutrition advice from the website, www.florafamilymarathon.com, plus raise money for one of the official charities, chosen by the celebrities. FLORA hopes to raise over GBP200,000 for charity through this campaign.

Warren Plaskett, Brand Manager for FLORA, said: "2005 is the 10th year of the FLORA brand's sponsorship of the London Marathon and to celebrate we're helping 20,000 families across the UK get fit and healthy. FLORA has been at the forefront of heart health for over 40 years, and by launching the 2005 FLORA Family Marathon we will continue to persuade families to eat well and get up and get active. Through the FLORA Family Marathon we are also hoping to bring families together, show how maintaining a healthy heart can be fun and rewarding, and raise money for very good causes in the process."

Gordon Ramsay, who is taking part with his wife Tana and family said: "It'll be great to do something as a family, but everyone else better do a bit or Tana and I will end up running two marathons."

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly said, "It's more fun exercising with your family, and it's great with the FLORA Family Marathon because everyone can do their bit. Even our dog Rocky is taking part!"

About the FLORA Family Marathon:

- The FLORA Family Marathon (FFM) is a nationwide event from FLORA that puts healthy living at the heart of the Family. Aimed at inspiring groups of all ages to get up and get active, it encourages 20,000 Families to get together and complete a marathon (26.2 miles) as a team, over a period of 5 weeks.

- Families - which can be any group of friends, colleagues, or relatives - choose how they want to split the first 25.2 miles between them, and then run their share over the course of one month. They then all run the final mile together on Marathon Day, 17 April (the day of the FLORA London Marathon).

- Registered families can download 28-day training plans, chose a Celebrity Family to run with, set up a sponsorship page at JustGiving.com and log their miles as they go along. They can also sign up for updates and messages from their chosen Celebrity as well as getting tips and advice on nutrition and healthy living.

Registration costs GBP10, which covers the cost of the Marathon pack. The Marathon pack includes:
- FLORA Family Marathon baseball caps
- A pedometer
- Medal for each family member and finishing tape (which are sent out to all families who log 25.2 miles on the website)

Registration is open from 17 January, and closes once all 20,000 places are filled. Hints and tips on how to get active will be available on the website to help everyone get ready for 'training', which starts on 7 February for 28 days. 'Running' starts on 7 March, with the final mile being run by everyone on 17 April.

10 families will win a VIP trip to London to complete their final mile at the actual FLORA London Marathon, alongside the Celebrity Families. The celebrities will present the Family with their medals just before the start of the FLORA London Marathon.

The Unilever Careline will be open throughout this period to provide customer support on all aspects of the FLORA Family Marathon. The number for the Careline is +44(0)800-0289-997.