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Sara Cox Completes 135-Mile Children in Need Trek as Donations Hit £7.65m

Radio 2’s live campaign drove donations past £7.65m through constant coverage, local crowds, and celebrity messages.

Overview

  • The Radio 2 presenter finished the five-day, 135-mile Great Northern Marathon Challenge in Pudsey, Leeds, at about 3:30pm after crossing Northumberland, County Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire with a Pudsey Bear backpack.
  • An announced total of £7,651,855 was reported shortly after 4pm, with the BBC Children in Need telethon set to continue fundraising on BBC One and iPlayer this evening.
  • Prince William sent a recorded message of encouragement aired on Radio 2 on Friday morning, which left Cox visibly emotional as she began the final leg.
  • Supporters lined the route throughout the week, including a 40-tractor guard of honour in Winston, and former Spice Girl Melanie C welcomed Cox with a performance at the finish.
  • BBC cameras followed the challenge for an hour-long programme due on iPlayer on Wednesday, November 19, and Radio 2 described the effort as its longest fundraising challenge to date.