Sara Cox has completed her 135-mile endurance challenge for Children In Need, crossing the finishing line in Pudsey, where she was greeted by fellow Radio 2 host Scott Mills in the pouring rain.
Cox is the latest BBC star to take on a charity endurance challenge for Children in Need, completing her Great Northern Marathon Challenge over five days.
“It’s just the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I’ve never known pain like it,” she told Mills on Radio 2.
“But then I’ve never had eye contact with so many amazing women who have just powered me on. On the side of the road, in the driving rain, it was bitterly cold. The truck drivers honking their horns, the farmers stopping work just to come and say hi.”
“Thanks to everybody who let me stop for a wee at their house – it was a few people!” she adds.
Mills shared that her fundraising challenge had now raised £7,651,855 for Children in Need.
“Amazing! That will change so many lives, so many children’s lives, so many young people’s lives, and their families as well. Thank you so much,” Cox shared.
BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox runs through Wolsingham, County Durham, during Day 3 of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge in aid of Children in Need. (Lewis Langstaff-Wood/Alamy Images)
Prince William joined the throngs of well-known supporters on her final day, sending a video message that said: “Sara, massive congratulations for what you are doing. You are so nearly there, just a little bit further. 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 is so proud of you.”
Read more: Sara Cox’s gruelling Children in Need challenge is proof we need to stop with extremes
Sir Rod Stewart, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Mo Farah, Paul Radcliffe and Mel C are amongst those who have given words of encouragement during the week. Hollywood film star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson offered his support to Cox in the lead up to her challenge.
Cox’s Children in Need challenge was announced back in September, and she finally set off on the epic journey on Monday, 10 November. It took five days and saw her journey through some of Northern England’s greatest gems, including Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, in a mix of running, jogging and walking.
It is BBC Radio 2’s longest-ever challenge in terms of duration, with many of the station’s other stars having previously undertaken fundraising missions. In 2024, Paddy McGuinness raised £10.3m through his Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge.
Other Radio 2 Children in Need challenges have included Vernon Kay’s Ultra Ultra Marathon in 2023, Scott Mills’ 24-hour TreadMills Challenge in 2022, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco Danceathon in 2021, Joe Wicks’ 24 Hour PE Challenge in 2020, and Rylan’s Great Ka-RY-oke Challenge in 2019.
Here’s all you need to know about Cox’s 2025 fundraiser, including the route and daily updates.
Day 5, Friday: Ripley to Pudsey – The Final Day
Storm Claudia meant a wet and windy start to Friday. (BBC)
Day five was the shortest leg of the journey, but Cox had to contend with Storm Claudia, with rain forecast for the whole day.
She got another early start, and it wasn’t long before she received the call to say that fundraising had reached more than £4m, along with a message of support from Prince William.
Prince William said in a video: “Sara, massive congratulations for what you are doing. You are so nearly there, just a little bit further. 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 is so proud of you.”
Sir Rod Stewart added his message to the list of celebrity supporters, and there was even a fly past from the Red Arrows, despite the bad weather.
An emotional moment getting a fundraising update. (BBC)
By late morning, there was huge news for Cox as the donations passed £6m – in an emotional reaction, she said: “Wow, thank you so much. That’s incredible. That’s such a big leap. Thank you so much. Six million quid, that is incredible. Gosh, that’s really going to power me on, that is going to spur me right on, thank you so much for every penny. Thank you.”
After the equivalent of five marathons in five days, Cox completed her challenge in the afternoon of Friday, 14 November. Her first words after crossing the finishing line in Pudsey were: “I can’t believe it, oh my gosh. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it… HELLO YORKSHIRE!
“I’m an honorary Yorkshire woman now!”
Day 4, Thursday: Richmond to Ripley – The Longest Day
Sara Cox’s sister Dot joined her on Thursday morning. (BBC)
Day three was certainly a gruelling one, but there’s no let up in Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge as she reaches the daunting Thursday route – billed as The Longest Day.
This is the furthest leg Cox will have to cover at more than 29 miles and an estimated 13 hours on the road from Richmond to Ripley, so she got an early start just after 7am.
Cox was spurred on by a surprise visit from her sister Dot, who joined her on the road to give her a hug and some words of encouragement.
Sara Cox gets a fundraising update. (BBC)
Rain continues to lash down on the challenge into day four, but Cox’s efforts are paying off as her total stood at just under £2.7m by midday – and Ant and Dec thoughtfully sent her a sunsoaked message of support from Australia, where they’re prepping for the start of I’m a Celebrity. Cox celebrated in true northern style with chips and gravy “with loads of vinegar”.
During Thursday, she was joined by Jude from The One Show’s Challenge Squad, a 20-year-old with spina bifida who has been through 20 surgeries. He joined her for 8km of the route, and later in the day the dog walkers of Masham also came out to join her.
Sara Cox reaches the finish line in Ripley. (BBC)
Cox also took the time to speak out against how women over 50 are represented as Trevor Nelson called her for an update and used the phrase “women of a certain age”. She replied: “We are not women of a certain vintage, we are not women of a certain age, we are women over 50. It’s just the beginning when you get to 50, I’m loving being 50. There are lots of women out in the streets going ‘Go on!’ and I’m high-fiving little girls in the street, showing them my biceps! I’m like, ‘Yes girls, go get it!'”
She finally made it to Ripley at around 7:45pm, saying after she crossed the finish line: “I said yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life and I think I need to update you. That was so tough. Oh my gosh that was so tough, I don’t know how I did it.”
At the end of Thursday, the fundraising total stood at more than £3.5m.
Day 3, Wednesday: Wolsingham to Richmond – The Hilliest Day
The Wolsingham crowds offer support at the start of day three. (BBC)
If Cox thought Tuesday’s Baal Hill was a struggle, she’s in for a tough time on Wednesday – dubbed The Hilliest Day as it includes frequent steep climbs through the County Durham countryside on the way to Richmond.
She’ll cover 28 miles and made an early start, setting off around 7:30am. “I would’ve done anything for a good night’s sleep last night – there’s been tears already this morning. My legs are sore, my feet are sore – it’s an inflammation cascade!” she said. “My body is going ‘what the heck is going on?’ I don’t know how I’m going to do this today, I’ve just not slept.”
Contemplating ‘The Hilliest Day’. (BBC)
Breakfast show jost Scott Mills told listeners she was “really struggling” and had been walking sections backwards to take the strain off her aching legs.
Peter Kay, Paddy McGuinness and Alex Jones all got in touch with their support, and Cox received the best news to spur her on – donations have now edged over the £1m mark.
Sara Cox reacts to reaching £1m for charity. (BBC)
She had to stop at the side of the road to stretch out her legs and admitted: “Give me childbirth any day over this pain in my knees! Going downhill is much more painful, I’m trying to manage it and crack on. My one ‘diva’ demand has been crumpets – just butter and jam.”
But it wasn’t long before a new huge fundraising total was announced – by late morning, Cox had raised £1,411,021.
The celebrity support keeps on rolling in, with Cox receiving well wishes from Dame Judi Dench, Mo Farah, Louis Theroux, Paula Radcliffe, Mel C, Gabby Logan, Alan Shearer, Richard Madeley, Adele Roberts and Damon Albarn.
An exhausted Cox reached Richmond just after 7pm, where she was greeted by a brass band at the finish line. She told Jo Whiley: “I can’t believe today is done. That is physically and mentally the toughest day ever. Thank you for everyone coming out in Richmond! I got a couple of hours sleep last night and I was bang awake at half 12. And then I was just listening to audiobooks and just trying not to panic. I was awake till gone 3am and my alarm was set for 5am! I was just like, ‘What am I going to do?’ I was in despair, in bits.”
Whiley told her the amazing news that donations had reached £1,930,710.
Day 2, Tuesday: Hexham to Wolsingham – The Highest Day
Sara Cox is headed for Wolsingham on day two. (BBC/Guy Levy)
After a gruelling Monday covering nearly 27 miles, Cox has to get up and do it all over again for day two.
She’ll be setting off from Hexham in Northumberland and making her way down to Wolsingham in County Durham for her second finish line.
At the end of Monday’s leg, Cox admitted to being “a bit nervous” about Tuesday as she wouldn’t be starting on fresh legs and the weather is due to take a turn for the worse. However, she has the support of her Radio 2 co-stars and listeners, and the boost of Monday’s fundraising total.
On the Scott Mills breakfast show, he told Cox that the amount of money she had raised had rocketed to £331, 278.
The weather took a turn for the worse at the day two start line. (BBC)
Tuesday’s theme is The Highest Day, as it will see Cox tackle a punishing 1,500ft ascent up Baal Hill.
It’s a tough ask, and giving a mid-morning update she said: “I’m all over the place, if I’m honest. It’s a real rollercoaster. I’ll have two minutes where I’m like, ‘Come on, this is fine, let’s do it,’ and I’m singing, ‘Oh, what a beautiful morning’ as the icy rain splatters against my face. And then two minutes later, I’m like, ‘I can’t do this. What’s happening?’.”
However, Cox’s efforts are all paying off – not only has she made it to County Durham, her second county of four on the route, but Vernon Kay also gave her a call to let her know live on air that the total raised had reached a massive £439,255.
The DJ made it to the day two finish line. (BBC)
She also made it up the punishing Baal Hill, telling Jeremy Vine on his Radio 2 show: “I’ve just run up Baal Hill… I mean, I’m not being funny, but it should be illegal that hill.”
Cox crossed the finish line in Wolsingham just after 6pm after a day that included a surprise visit from her dog Daisy, and managed to triple her fundraising total to £650,128.
Day 1, Monday: Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge begins – The Loneliest Day
Cox had some superstar words of encouragement as she revealed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had offered his advice. She said: “He was great. I did ask him if he fancied to come up along the route and give me a piggyback at some point. He insisted he was very busy before he even knew what the date was of the challenge.
“But he did say, just picture how you’d feel if you didn’t do it, if you didn’t push yourself that extra bit, which was helpful. I’ll have that ringing in my ears. There’s no way I can’t finish it. I’ve got to, I’ve got to complete it.”
The broadcaster set off from Kielder Forest. (BBC)
She hit the road in Kielder Forest at around 8:30am on Monday, 10 November for the first leg which was themed The Loneliest Day for its sparsely populated route. With the equivalent of a marathon to cover each day, she’ll need to pace herself, but had an enthusiastic start against the beautiful backdrop of Northumberland’s countryside.
She caught up with Vernon Kay for his BBC Radio 2 show and told him: “It was lovely, beautiful. Bright blue skies and lots of lovely country lanes, and incredible countryside. There have been so many people tooting at me; the farmers came out, the lorry drivers were giving me a honk-honk, it’s been gorgeous actually. Still quite a way to go though!”
Passing through Bellingham, she even had her trainers blessed by locals with holy water from St. Cuthbert’s Well and aims to reach Hexham by the end of day one.
Sara Cox stopped off to have her trainers blessed at St Cuthbert’s Well. (BBC)
Around lunchtime, she said: “The weather is changing a little bit, it’s getting a little bit nippier as the afternoon goes on, but there’s still people coming out, which is nice. But there’s a lot of long roads and a lot of hills and a lot of sheep but it’s an absolutely beautiful part of the world…
“It’s weird when you stop, you just feel a great big rush when you stop, and I feel like I am seizing up slightly each time I stop. But, yeah, halfway through day one of five, so I am fully braced for it to get harder and harder.”
Cox reached her day one finish line, the Northumberland market town of Hexham, just before 5pm after eight hours on the road and her fundraising total for Monday stood at an incredible £189,741. The first leg was nearly 27 miles, which she said had taken its toll on her.
She told Radio 2’s Trevor Nelson: “I’ve just ran an ultramarathon, I’ve done over 26 miles! I want to dedicate it to every child that has been helped by the Children in Need projects, I want to dedicate to any child that has been teased for having wonky legs or walking funny or running funny like I always was at school.
“I would like to also mention my big brother David who we lost in 2019; he was a real Iron Man, he was a multiple Iron Man and incredible athlete and I’m hoping I’ve just got a bit of strength from him today and it’s been amazing, and thanks to everybody that has come out!”
What is Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge?
Sara Cox will carry her Pudsey backpack from Northumberland to Pudsey in Leeds. (BBC/Guy Levy)
The challenge will see Radio 2 favourite Cox cover 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire — where she will run, jog, and walk through sweeping moorland, steep ridges, and rolling hills, carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack.
She begins in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, on Monday, 10 November, and will travel towards the finish line in Pudsey, Leeds, aiming to reach it by the afternoon of Friday, 14 November.
Cox will have to run, jog or walk the entire route and is hoping for plenty of support from Radio 2 listeners along the way. She said: “When they picked me to get Pudsey to Pudsey, I was honoured and horrified in equal measure – we’re talking 135 miles of hills, moors and blisters – but I am ready for the challenge, and I will absolutely be giving it everything I’ve got!
“Just like with Vernon & Paddy, I know the brilliant Radio 2 listeners will be with me every step of the way and their encouragement and support will shove me up every incline & pull me through my toughest moments. Pudsey has been part of Children in Need for 40 years this year, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by helping raise much-needed funds for children who need it most.”
Sara Cox was announced as this year’s challenger in September. (BBC/Sarah Louise Bennett)
Offering his support, McGuinness said: “I know exactly what Sara will be going through so I and the rest of the Radio 2 family of listeners (as well as the Bolton massive) will be supporting her every step of the way, especially up all those hills!” Director of content at BBC Children in Need Tommy Nagra added: “Everyone at BBC Children in Need is behind you all the way – cheering you on with Pudsey.”
Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas said: “Following in the footsteps of some of our most ambitious Children in Need challenges, this year it’s Sara’s turn to go the extra mile – or in her case, 135 of them! This is an extraordinarily tough 5-day challenge that will test her endurance as she crosses stunning but demanding terrain to get Pudsey Bear to his home county of Yorkshire. I would like to thank Sara for taking on this mammoth journey, and I know the amazing Radio 2 listeners will be cheering her on every step of the way.”
A BBC TV crew will follow Cox on her 135-mile journey and the documentary will air in November.
How to donate to Sara Cox’s Children In Need challenge
If you want to throw your support behind Cox by donating to her fundraiser, you can pledge money in a few different ways.
Text donations work by texting the amount of money you want to give – written as TEN, TWENTY or THIRTY – to 70710.
Supporters can also donate online by visiting the Children In Need site. Details of donating can be found on the challenge page.
Children In Need is on BBC One on Friday, 14 November.