Sara Cox has pulled off a phenomenal achievement, completing five marathons in five days and raising more than £9.5 million for Children in Need. By Friday evening, the total had reached £9,523,028, marking one of the most successful Radio 2 challenges ever. She has almost matched the total of Paddy McGuiness last year, who raised £10.5 million.
Starting in the rugged quiet of Kielder Forest on the Scottish borders on Monday, she pushed through Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, finally arriving in Pudsey on Friday afternoon. The symbolic journey — carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack from border to heartland — ended with crowds, music from Melanie C and messages of support from across the country, including the Prince of Wales. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she told supporters, “That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done… Hello Yorkshire! I’m an honorary Yorkshire woman now!”
Throughout the week she battled driving rain, punishing cold and the emotional toll of constant pain, yet the encouragement she received kept her moving: truck drivers honking, farmers stopping work to cheer her on, families opening their doors so she could nip in for a loo break. She described the whole thing as a “rollercoaster”, admitting her mood was swinging “every three or four seconds” by the end.
Rod Stewart’s charitable donation
The total jumped up when Sir Rod added his contribution. Posting on Instagram, BBC Radio 2 shared a photo of the music legend alongside a voice note he’d recorded mid-workout, cheering Sara on: “Hi Sara Cox, it’s Rod Stewart here just doing his workout. Good luck darling, keep going, you’re an absolute heroine, you really are.”
He even broke into song, belting out “Keep right on ’til the end of the road” before laughing and signing off with, “Well done sweetheart.”
The total hasn’t been publicised, but it was described as an “incredibly generous donation”.
Rod Stewart’s generosity is hardly surprising. The singer has a long track record of backing good causes, donating large sums and using his platform to raise money for everything from the NHS and Great Ormond Street to homelessness organisations, refugee support, The Prince’s Trust, Football For Change, The King’s Foundation, disaster relief and the British Heart Foundation.
The bigger picture
This year’s Children in Need appeal has now climbed beyond £45 million, boosted hugely by the wave of support around Sara’s challenge. The telethon, hosted by a line-up including Paddy McGuinness, Big Zuu, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush, features performances from Tom Fletcher and Remember Monday, along with sketches from EastEnders, The Apprentice and Gladiators.
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