Sara Cox sobbed as she learned she has raised millions of pounds for Children in Need and received a moving message of support from Prince William.
The Prince of Wales has hailed the BBC Radio 2 DJ, who on Friday crossed the finish line for her Great Northern Marathon Challenge, bringing her Children in Need Challenge to cover 135 miles in five days to a close.
The heir to the throne urged her to ‘keep going’ and said he hoped she would get lots of hugs when she finishes her run this evening, as well as plenty of crumpets – her favourite food.
Moving footage of the 50-year-old crying in the rain on Friday morning as she learned that she had raised £4.1million has gone viral today.
The expedition is Radio 2’s longest-ever, and most gruelling, BBC Children In Need challenge.
Prince William recorded a video message, which was played by Scott Mills on his Radio 2 breakfast show.
He said: ‘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 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’s so proud of you.’
The extraordinary moment Sara Cox learned that she had raised £4million for Children in Need this morning – and this is now up to £6million
Prince William, who was in Cornwall yesterday, has sent a message to Sara urging her to push on and his hope she will be rewarded with hugs and crumpets at the end of her five days of running
After crossing the finish line at around 3.30pm today in Pudsey, Leeds, having started in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, Cox said: ‘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.’
Carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack, the DJ travelled through Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire on her journey.
Speaking to Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2, she added: ‘It’s just the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I’ve never known pain like it.
‘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.’
Ms Cox covered the equivalent of five marathons in five days.
Calling the amount ‘incredible’, Cox said: ‘Everybody just giving a fiver or a tenner did it, that is amazing. Thank you so much. Thanks to everybody who has donated, you’re absolutely awesome.’
The challenge is the longest tackled by Radio 2 as part of the annual fundraiser.
Fellow Radio 2 presenter Trevor Nelson revealed to Cox on Thursday the total raised had topped £3million.
She said she had been encouraged by support from lots of women during her challenge.
‘We are not women of a certain vintage, we are not women of a certain age, we are women over 50,’ she said. ‘It’s just the beginning when you get to 50, I’m loving being 50.’
Sara was stopped in her tracks when she learned just how much people had donated
The Radio 2 DJ could not hide her emotion at the cash her run is raising
She also revealed she had received a call from her mother and sister in India as she passed a telephone box during Thursday’s longest leg from Richmond to Ripley.
The BBC’s annual Children In Need telethon starts on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 7pm on Friday.
The evening, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, Big Zuu, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush, will see performances from the likes of McFly singer Tom Fletcher and girl band Remember Monday, alongside sketches from BBC favourites including The Apprentice, EastEnders and Gladiators.
Sara admitted on Thursday that ‘everything is hurting’ after completing day three of her gruelling 135-mile Children In Need marathon challenge.
Speaking to Paddy McGuinness about how she was feeling, she said: ‘There’s a bit of blue sky which is a lovely welcome for sure, and the sun is trying to break through the misty white cloud – and look I’m going to curse it now but touch wood it’s dry – but it’s probably been one of the toughest mornings of my life if I’m honest, just everything’s hurting.
‘I mean I’m used to Wednesday being a hump day but this is ridiculous, it’s hump after hump after hump to get over today.’
Sara Cox has admitted that ‘everything is hurting’
She added: ‘But you know, people at the side of the road, people here, I mean they’re amazing but it’s just my calves are so tight, my knees are killing me and I just feel like my left leg isn’t doing what I’m asking it to do, and it’s just tough.
‘I’m trying to just keep digging, it’s tough.’
Paddy also revealed the astonishing total raised so far to Sara on Radio 2 on Wednesday, to which she replied: ‘That is mind blowing… I mean that amount already, just absolutely incredible.
‘Thank you so much if you’ve donated. Thanks Radio 2 listeners – best in the world.’
Fellow Boltonian Peter Kay sent Sara a supportive message, saying: ‘Hello Sara, it’s Peter. This…this what you are doing is a massive challenge. Huge. I thought Paddy and Vernon had it hard but you are taking it to the next level.
‘What’s next? Scott Mills skipping up the M1. Your poor little feet. Listen, whenever you are up against it, when you feel like you can’t go on and the tops of your legs are chafing just think of all those children in need.
‘Think about how much it will mean to them. We all know it’s a very good cause. Saying that, all that money they are raising they still never fixed Pudsey’s eye.’
