BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox was moved to tears live on air after receiving a surprise message of support from the Prince of Wales during her monumental fundraising challenge for Children in Need.
A Gruelling Challenge for a Great Cause
Sara Cox, the host of Radio 2's weekday Teatime Show, has been pushing her limits in the Great Northern Marathon Challenge. Her incredible endeavour saw her cover the distance of five marathons in just five days, a staggering 135 miles in total, from Kielder Forest to her final destination in Pudsey, Leeds.
The journey took her through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire, all while sporting a Pudsey Bear backpack. The challenge, the longest ever undertaken by a Radio 2 presenter for the annual fundraiser, was designed to raise crucial funds for Children in Need.
A Royal Boost and an Emotional Reaction
As she neared the end of her exhausting trek, a video message from Prince William was played on Scott Mills' Radio 2 breakfast show. The Prince of Wales offered his heartfelt congratulations and encouragement.
"Sara, massive congratulations for what you're doing," he said. "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 royal message proved too much for an already overwhelmed Cox, who broke down in tears. Her emotion was compounded by the staggering success of her fundraising efforts, which have seen public donations smash the £4 million mark.
Celebrating Women and a Nation's Generosity
Speaking about the incredible total raised, Cox expressed her profound gratitude to every single donor. "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," she said.
Throughout her challenge, Cox also highlighted the support she received from women, proudly stating, "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."
In a touching personal moment, she also revealed that her mother and sister, calling from India, had managed to reach her while she was walking past a phone box during the marathon leg from Richmond to Ripley.
The funds raised by Cox's extraordinary effort will contribute to the BBC's Children in Need fundraising spectacular, which airs on Friday evening on BBC One and iPlayer.
