Sara Cox Begins Five-Day BBC Children in Need Marathon Challenge
Radio 2’s Sara Cox started her journey from Kielder Forest this morning, embarking on a five-day challenge to carry a specially made Pudsey Bear backpack to Pudsey in Leeds by 14 November. This trek marks the launch of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need.
Covering 135 miles on foot across four counties—Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire—Sara’s walk is the longest Radio 2 challenge in duration. She relies solely on her own two feet, walking or jogging the route without any vehicles, driven by determination and what she described as “a generous helping of great northern grit.”
Community Support at the Start
- Locals gathered to cheer her at Kielder Forest Park.
- Stuart Todd from Morpeth Pipe Band played as she set off.
- Andrea Foote from Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Association sounded the official horn to mark the beginning of the challenge.
Sara Cox’s Motivations and Preparations
“I am going to be running when I can and then striding along. I may be occasionally stumbling, limping and weeping, but I’ll get my sorry self to Pudsey in Leeds on Friday.”
The 270-gram Pudsey backpack was fitted with a rain mac to cope with typical northern weather conditions.
Talking to Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Sara said she felt “more relaxed than I have been for weeks” as she began. “People have turned up with banners and their dogs – it’s absolutely gorgeous actually.”
Summary: Sara Cox is undertaking a 135-mile, five-day marathon challenge on foot to support BBC Children in Need, inspiring local communities with her grit and enthusiasm.