BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox has completed her 135-mile Great Northern Marathon Challenge, raising £7,651,855 for BBC Children in Need.
Sara reached the finish line in Pudsey, West Yorkshire at 3.30pm, where Scott Mills revealed the final total live on Radio 2.
Melanie C was there to surprise Sara and performed “Northern Star” and a medley of Spice Girls hits in front of a live audience, broadcast from Pudsey.
Speaking after finishing, Sara said: “I can’t believe it, oh my gosh, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never known pain like it but I’ve never had so many amazing people cheering me on. The truck drivers honking, the farmers waving, and the kids with homemade signs — it’s been the maddest, most painful, wonderful thing I’ve ever done.”
The five-day challenge saw Sara run from Kielder Forest on the Scottish border to Pudsey, taking on five themed stages through bitter rain, steep hills, and freezing wind.
Day one: Sara began her journey at Kielder Forest accompanied by a piper from Morpeth Pipe Band as locals cheered her off. Trevor Nelson revealed live on air that £189,741 had been raised on the first day.
Day two: Heavy rain greeted Sara in Hexham as she faced the highest point of her challenge. By the end of the day, DJ Spoony told her the total had surged to £650,128.
Day three: The longest leg took Sara from Wolsingham to Richmond, where exhaustion and lack of sleep tested her resolve. Jo Whiley later revealed that donations had risen to £1.93 million.
Day four: The local mayor and residents saw Sara off from Richmond as Vernon Kay announced a total of £2.68 million. By evening, Trevor Nelson confirmed that the total had passed £3 million.
Day five: Sara left Ripley for her final stretch to Pudsey. A Red Arrow flew overhead, and Scott Mills played a message from Prince William, who told her: “The nation is so proud of you.”
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said Sara’s run had “brought the nation together to raise vital funds for Children in Need” and praised listeners for their overwhelming generosity.
Sara’s challenge attracted messages from Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe, Ant and Dec, Louis Theroux and Dame Judi Dench, and support from thousands of listeners who lined the streets along the way.
This story first appeared on radiotoday.co.uk