Tess Daly shared an emotional message to her husband Vernon Kay on Friday ahead of the completion of his Children In Need Ultramarathon.
Taking to Instagram, the TV star, 54, branded Vernon, 49, ‘wonderful’ hours before he arrived at Old Trafford Cricket Ground to complete the fourth and final day of the challenge – for which he raised an eye-popping £4m at time of publication.
Vernon’s challenge involves running and walking nearly 100 miles over the past three days, with the rest to complete on the final day.
In her post, Tess lamented her absence, as she was having to stay near London head of Strictly’s live show on Saturday but professed her pride at the achievement.
Alongside a screenshot of their Facetime conversation, the blonde beauty penned: ‘Absolutely gutted not to be at the finish line not to cheer you on today! (am at Strictly) BUT what a moment, what an achievement…
My man: Tess Daly shared an emotional message to her husband Vernon Kay on Friday ahead of the completion of his Children In Need Ultramarathon
Update: Taking to Instagram, the TV star, 54, branded Vernon, 49, ‘wonderful’ hours before he arrived at Old Trafford Cricket Ground to complete the third and final day of the challenge – for which he raised an eye-popping £4m at time of publication
‘I am SO PROUD of what you’ve done! I can see in your body that it’s taken a physical toll but I know that it won’t matter right now, as the total of over 3 MILLION raised for Children In Need is just incredible…
‘The generosity and support shown by everyone that has so kindly donated and those who have come out to support you along the way has been beyond wonderful and I know it’s kept you going (and me too), love you to bits Vern, you’ve got this!!’
Vernon pushed his way to the final pit stop of the third day after tackling Kinder Scout in the Peak District before heading to Stockport and then onto Old Trafford.
Upon his arrival, the BBC R2 star received a warm welcome from legions of fans who had gathered to greet him.
On Friday morning, Vernon left just before 7am to complete the final leg of his challenge, where he will complete it in his home town of Bolton.
His journey will take him through Salford, Linnyshaw, Little Hulton and Middlebrook, before finishing at the Toughsheet Stadium home of Bolton Wanderers.
On Thursday Vernon admitted he was beginning to struggle while walking over Kinder Scout as the group added a mile to the journey due to the weather.
He said: ‘I’m done now, I’ve had enough. I’m drained, I’ve got no energy left.’
Gruelling: Vernon pushed his way to the final pit stop of the third day after tackling Kinder Scout in the Peak District before heading to Stockport and then onto Old Trafford
‘It’s going to take a lot to rebuild me now and get me on the road to get to the other side of Manchester. That was hard.
‘I know people were saying Kinder’s a brave thing to do on any normal day, but we’ve done that which was nearly 14 miles and now we’ve got another 16 to go….
‘The difference is, it seems to be, that everything we’ve done so far – the 60 odd mile we’ve done so far has been all at the back of the legs with the running, and now that was just a big heavy push up and then a stride over the top…
‘The plateau, and then down was just horrific because you’ve got to watch your feet, so everyone’s saying “the beautiful views”, I haven’t seen anything, I’m just staring at my feet. It’s the worst thing.
‘That’s worse than yesterday’s 40 miles…. That is the worst thing ever. If you were to say to me we’re gonna do 40 miles and we’re gonna run it I’d say never in a million years, and we did that yesterday and then I thought that Kinder would have been a relatively easier day….
‘Kinder the killer… I’m done, I’ve got no energy left. I’ve got to take my boots off, my toes are killing me. I need to refuel because people were giving me a high 5 but I couldn’t even lift my arm up.’
After making the gruelling trek to Manchester, Jo Whiley revealed that the fundraising stood at around £2.7milion with hopes of smashing £3m on Friday.
Go on! Vernon kicked off the ambitious four-day marathon at 9am on November 14, in a bid to raise money for Children in Need
Vernon said: ‘Oh come on, come on. If I can get these 50 year old legs pounding down the street to Old Trafford then no matter how much you’ve got, big or small, if you can stick your hands in your pockets for Children in Need.
‘I’ve seen so many people on the run who’ve said we’re supported by Children In Need…. dig deep, get me off my back side and get me to Old Trafford tonight.’
After arriving, Vernon spoke to his wife Tess, who said: ‘Oh my goodness, it’s been emotional hasn’t it today?’
She added: ‘My nerves are shredded because I, literally I can’t do anything else I’m just listening to the radio and just waiting for news. And waiting to hear from you.’
Vernon kicked off the ambitious four-day marathon at 9am on November 14, in a bid to raise money for Children in Need.
Starting in Leicester’s Victoria Park the star will eventually cover around 115 miles all on foot.
During Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show earlier on Thursday, Vernon chatted about his progress, and was called a ‘hero’ for his ambitious challenge.
He said: ‘It was brilliant! It was awesome and do you know what? A lot of people have showed up this morning as well, they’ve been here for quite a while, and I’ve got loads of friends that live in Buxton.
The broadcaster continued: ‘I call them the Rave Brigade from up Buxton, and the Derbyshire Dales, and they’ve all come out to see me.
‘[It] brings back so many happy memories from when we were out raving and whatnot, its brilliant.’
Zoe, 52, then quizzed the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star about how he was physically holding up, when he admitted he was ‘absolutely shattered’.
Vernon said: ‘It was an interesting one yesterday because I was absolutely shattered after the 40 miles.
‘I came in and your body pumps itself full of adrenaline when you see everyone smiling and clapping and cheering, and whooping and hollering.
‘And then there’s that lull, where you just sit down and you kind of slowly take it all in and try and compute what’s happened.
Challenge: Starting in Leicester’s Victoria Park, the radio host will finish up in his hometown at the Bolton Wanderers’ football stadium on November 17
Support: Vernon has been cheered on by huge crowds during his challenge and he stopped to pose for snaps with schoolchildren and teachers, who held up a sign to support him
‘And then I got into my bedroom and I just literally collapsed on the bed! And this morning, I couldn’t wake up and I felt really [sick].
‘I said to the gang I said, ‘I feel sick this morning, I feel a bit light-headed, stomach’s not the best’, and they were like, ‘Oh it’s to be expected, because of everything that you’ve done’.’
Vernon’s parents also offered their support for him during an appearance on BBC’s Jo Whiley Show.
His mother Gladys said: ‘Hello Vern. Right now listen, you’re doing wonderfully. Honestly, I can’t tell you, all this love and support that you’re getting is getting to me.
‘I’m so so proud, I’m filling up because you know how much you’re loved and to hear these comments about you online and listening to all these people and writing it up to my son, it’s just too much’.
Fans are able to donate at https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/R2VernonChallenge.
