Sara Cox has revealed her Great Northern Marathon Challenge total has soared to an outstanding £11,501,637 for Children In Need.
Donations continued to flood in after the broadcast of her behind-the-scenes appeal film, Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way, on BBC One on Wednesday night.
The radio presenter, 50, covered 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, County Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – a distance of five marathons across five days.
The presenter’s grand total has risen by more than £1.3 million since Monday’s previous figure of £10.2 million, announced by Scott Mills on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.
Sara revealed on Radio 2 on Thursday the new total and said: ‘You are legends. Every fiver, tenner, every twenty, every thirty. Whatever you gave a couple of quid on the side of the road.
‘The kids that gave their money that they got from the tooth fairy. Every penny goes to helping children and young people in the UK and you are absolutely incredible.
Sara Cox has revealed her Great Northern Marathon Challenge total has soared to an outstanding £11,501,637 for Children In Need
The radio presenter, 50, covered 135 miles on foot across four counties – a distance of five marathons across five days
‘If it’s safe to do so, you are not operating heavy machinery, holding a small child or nursing a large whiskey, give yourselves a pat on the back. That is beautiful. Eleven and a half million pounds. We did it together, thank you.’
Sara made her triumphant return to her Radio 2 Teatime Show on Wednesday, after the ultra marathon challenge.
The presenter received congratulations Prince William and Stormzy following the huge achievement.
Roughly £35,000 was generously raised just from the buckets on the sidelines of Sara’s route alone.
After crossing the finish line, Sara revealed to Scott and Radio 2 listeners that music got her through the challenge: ‘I would like to thank Chase and Status and Stormzy for Backbone.
‘And I’d like to apologise to my son because on telly, if it stays on the documentary, I am singing that song quite a lot and it’s so cringe.
‘So I am so sorry to my kids. We spend a lot of time playing brilliant music on Radio 2… I was singing along at one point like a mad woman, singing along to Blur, and all sorts just to try and push through.’
Sara also reflected on her response to a good luck message from Prince William.
Sara has received congratulations from Prince William and Stormzy after completing the mammoth 135-mile challenge
Scott revealed roughly £35,000 was generously raised just from the buckets on the sidelines of Sara’s route alone
Prince William recorded a video message, which was played by Scott 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.’
Scott said: ‘You weren’t expecting Prince William on Friday were you?’
Sara replied: ‘I think I said ‘big up your bad self’ to the future king, can I apologise now? It was lovely, it was amazing.’
