Emmerdale’s Ryan Stocks actor James Moore has taken on the task of climbing the height of Scotland’s tallest mountain in memory of his late dad while raising money for charity
Emmerdale star James Moore admitted there were “lots of tears” as he completed the gruelling task of climbing the height of Ben Nevis in memory of his dad. The actor, 33, decided to take on the challenge with a team made up of his friends, family and a soap co-star to raise money for Myeloma UK.
His dad Stephen sadly died aged 69 from blood cancer, multiple myeloma, in June this year. According to the NHS, multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects bones and different parts of the body, which cannot usually be cured.
James, who is best known for playing Ryan Stocks in the soap, climbed 1,345 metres in just one day at a climbing centre in Cheltenham. Explaining how the idea came about, James told us: “My dad passed away this year in June of myeloma, the type of blood cancer. It’s not rare but it is uncommon.
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“I just thought there wasn’t enough awareness about it. It would have been his 70th birthday in August, and I donated to the charity Myeloma UK. But I thought there’s probably more that I can do than that.”
He added: “I’m not a swimmer at all and I can’t run very far, but I have been really getting into bouldering and climbing, so I thought I would do that.”
Revealing what the challenge meant to him, the actor told us: “It brought us all together because we had my family participating and friends come down for it. It was a real community aspect to it in addition to raising the money. I think dad would have been amazed at what we managed to accomplish.”
James, who was born with ataxic cerebral palsy, said he’d always had a great relationship with his dad Stephen. “He’s been really supportive of me and my career, always, whatever I wanted to do growing up and pushing me to do whatever I wanted, drama or music,” he said.
“He’s always been incredibly supportive of me and incredibly helpful with things like when it comes to disability as well. Removing barriers, encouraging me to do things when I had doubts.”
The soap star added: “He had time for everyone, really, that’s it. He was a really kind soul. He was very calm and comforting to be around.”
James’ challenge didn’t go off without a hiccup though, as when they arrived at the climbing centre they were faced with a power cut. He admitted they were able to work around it by having a lamp shine on a smaller climbing wall before the power came back on and the team were able to head over to the bigger walls.
The team, which also included James’ Emmerdale co-star Ash Palmisciano, who plays Matty Barton, worked out they needed to do 100 climbs of the wall and they managed it in an impressive three and a half hours. James was also battling an injury, having pulled the muscle in his hip just a week before.
However, he powered through and celebrated by being the team member to make the final climb. “There were a lot of tears,” James admitted.
“I got a bit emotional. It was just a bit emotional, thinking about dad and it was emotional from the family. But it was also so rewarding as well. That was probably the biggest challenge, having to deal with the emotional side of it.”
James and his wife Sophie are gearing up to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, having tied the knot in a stunning Autumn wedding last November. It has come as a poignant time though, as the couple reflected on James’ dad being there for their big day.
Revealing what their first year of marriage has been like, James admitted: “It has been a difficult year with my dad passing away.” Sophie added: “The actual married life has been amazing. He is just my best friend. It’s just life with my best friend.”
James shared: “She’s been incredibly supportive of everything. Supporting me all the time and helping out. She’s amazing.” He is also planning a secret for Sophie on their first wedding anniversary as he teased: “I’ve done something but I can’t tell you what it is right now.”
Looking back on their big day, the actor shared his favourite moment was getting 20 minutes to himself and Sophie in a campervan. “We had a drive round. We had like 20 minutes just us and that was really lovely because the day was so busy and obviously everyone wants to celebrate with you.
“You don’t actually get a lot of time together with your new spouse.” Sophie said her best moment was walking down the aisle seeing James’ mum, dad and brother with her own mum and brother alongside them.
“With everything that’s happened this year, that was just such a beautiful day with so much happiness,” she said. James added: “I am grateful to have had that day with him [his dad].”
He also admitted it was “surreal” to see his on-screen family with his real family at his big day. “I felt like a kind of world-colliding when you see Emmerdale co-stars dancing with friends you know from somewhere completely different.”
With their challenging year, the couple are yet to go on their honeymoon but have set their sights on Disney World. They are also busy creating their lives together as they’re in the middle of buying a house and are keen to have children in the next year.
“That’s part of the plan, wedding, house and kids,” Sophie shared as James quipped: “It’s coming up, I don’t know when but it is coming.”
James is also remaining tight lipped on his upcoming story lines in Emmerdale but teased he is going to be “busy” next year. When asked if he has any plans to leave anytime soon, he replied with a defiant “no”. “I’m still really enjoying it and happy to be there. It has been almost eight years now, which is crazy.”
Source: Mirror
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