Ex-footballer has started the first of five planned charity marathon runs in aid of a that will span across five major cities in Ireland and the UK over the next five days.
The runs are to mark the second birthday on August 10 of his daughter Azaylia, who last April aged eight months.
Ashley and Azaylia’s mum, Safiyya Vorajee, had hoped to take her to Singapore for specialist treatment to save her life, but were tragically toldÂ
His route through Dublin on Wednesday began at Fitzwilliam Square, passed Stephen’s Green and went through the Phoenix Park, Crumlin, Terenure and Ballsbridge before finishing back in the city centre at just before 4.30pm.
He will then undertake marathon routes in Belfast on Thursday, Glasgow on Friday, Cardiff on Saturday and finish in London on Sunday.
Ashley, who played for Coventry City and later featured in reality TV show Ex On The Beach, founded The Azaylia Foundation to help fight childhood cancer through advancing early diagnosis and new treatment availability in the UK.
After in April, Ashley is to undertake three further athletic challenges this month, starting with these five marathons in five days across the five cities.
The star will be joined by friends, family and public figures along the routes, having received support from cousin Tamika Cain and Rehan Khalid for today’s run.
Taking to Instagram after his first marathon, Ashley, who was looking forward to a pint of Guinness, said: ‘First of five, done and dusted. Dubs, it’s been a pleasure. Four more to go.’
Ashley shared Azaylia with former partner Safiyya, with the pair just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of their baby daughter’s death.
They had initially kept the news private for a few months so they could come to terms with it, calling their separation ‘an incredibly hard decision’.
In April, Safiyya revealed that theirafter their split.
‘We will always honour Azaylia, and mine and Ashley’s friendship is so strong together, we’re so strong,’ she told host Lorraine Kelly.
