BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox has reached the final chapter of her gruelling Great Northern Marathon Challenge — five marathons in five days, a brutal 135-mile route across four counties — and she’s done it with the nation behind her. But the moment that finally brought her to tears came in the most unexpected form: a personal message from the Prince of Wales.
Sara, who has raised an astonishing amount for Children in Need, became visibly emotional as she reacted to the overwhelming public support. She said she couldn’t believe that “everybody just giving a fiver or a tenner did it,” adding that the generosity was “amazing” and that everyone who donated was “absolutely awesome.”
On Friday, Sara will complete her journey in Pudsey, Leeds, finishing triumphantly with her trademark Pudsey Bear backpack after setting off from Kielder Forest and pushing through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
Her most powerful motivation arrived during Scott Mills’ Radio 2 breakfast show, where Prince William appeared in a video message praising her extraordinary effort. He told her: “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 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.”
This is the longest challenge ever attempted by Radio 2 for Children in Need, and the support hasn’t stopped flowing. Fellow presenter Trevor Nelson revealed that the fundraising total had already passed £3 million by Thursday.
Sara also reflected on the wave of encouragement from women across the UK, saying that women over 50 were proving their strength in a whole new way. “We are not women of a certain vintage, we are not women of a certain age — we are women over 50,” she said proudly. “It’s just the beginning when you get to 50. I’m loving being 50.”
Along the way, she received a touching call from her mum and sister in India while she passed a phone box on Thursday’s stretch from Richmond to Ripley — a moment of warmth amid the physical demands.
Children in Need will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm on Friday, with hosts Paddy McGuinness, Big Zuu, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush leading the night of music, comedy and fundraising magic.
