Radio 2 star Sara Cox became emotional as she completed her Northern Marathon Challenge on Friday and raised more than £7 million for Children In Need
Sara Cox became visibly emotional as she completed her Children in Need challenge on Friday. The presenter 50, ran, jogged and walked across Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, and pulled in a whopping £7.6million for the charity.
Just hours before the BBC’s annual telethon kicks off, the Radio 2 star got to the end of the mammoth challenge after covering 137 miles over the course of five days, and was greeted by legions of cheering fans.
She said: “It’s just the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never known pain like it but then I’ve never had eye contact with so many amazing women as I’ve run along. It just powered me on just like… at the side of the road, in the driving rain, it was bitterly cold, it was wet and filthy and just so many people came out.
“The truck drivers honking their horns, the farmers stopping work to come and say hi. The kids by the side of the road. Loads of homemade signs […] It’s just been the maddest, most painful, wonderful thing I’ve ever, ever done.”
It all came to an end as she crossed the finish line in Pudsey, Leeds, which is the town that the charity’s mascot bear is named after. In total, she raised £7,651,855 so far – with the total expected to rise.
Asked how she felt when the sum was revealed, she said: “Amazing. That is incredible. That will change so many lives. So many children’s lives. So many young people’s lives and their families as well, so thank you so much.”
(Image: BBC/Sarah Louise Bennett)
Fans took to social media to praise Sara. One said: “What an amaaaaaaaaazing woman Sara is!! Absolute LEGEND!!! Huge congratulations,” and another added: “And she worked for every single one of those pennies.”
A third shared: “Congratulations Sara. You dug deep and it was worth it! You raised an incredible amount and will help so many,” and her fellow radio host Vernon Kay simply wrote: “Mega!!” It wasn’t all plain sailing though, as Sara admitted that she was ‘in a lot of pain’ as she came towards the end but was determined to keep going.
Speaking on Radio 2, she said: “I’m just in a lot of pain. Just my ankles… my shins and my ankles are just battered and swollen. But thank you to everyone who’s donated, an incredible amount of money has come in.
“Thank you so much, that’s really helped. That really boosted me up when we had the 6 million mark at the last pit stop. That really got me back out on the road so thank you so much!” Earlier in the day, Sarah received a message from none other than William, Prince of Wales, who had nothing but praise for the broadcaster.
The radio star crossed the finish line in the Yorkshire town of Pudsey(Image: BBC/Sarah Louise Bennett)
The royal recorded a video message, which was aired by Scott Mills on his Radio 2 breakfast show. He commended: “Sara, massive congratulations for what you’re doing.
“You’re so nearly there, just a little bit further, and I know the people of Pudsey will all come out and welcome you with huge open arms, big hugs, and hopefully, lots of your favourite crumpets. Keep going, you’ve done fantastically well, and the nation’s so proud of you.”
She also disclosed that her mum and sister from India had rung her whilst she walked past a phone box during Thursday’s marathon stretch from Richmond to Ripley.
The BBC‘s yearly Children In Need fundraising spectacular kicks off on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 7pm on Friday.
The broadcast, presented by Paddy McGuinness, Big Zuu, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush, will feature musical acts including McFly frontman Tom Fletcher and girl group Remember Monday, plus comedy segments starring BBC legends from The Apprentice, EastEnders and Gladiators.
This challenge marks the longest ever undertaken by Radio 2 as part of the annual fundraiser. Her fellow Radio 2 presenter Trevor Nelson revealed to Sara on Thursday that the total raised had exceeded £3 million.
She shared that she had been buoyed by support from numerous women throughout her challenge. “We are not women of a certain vintage, we are not women of a certain age, we are women over 50,” she said. “It’s just the beginning when you get to 50, I’m loving being 50.”
