BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox has triumphantly crossed the finish line of her gruelling 135-mile marathon challenge, having raised an incredible £7.6 million for Children in Need.
An Epic Five-Day Journey
The 50-year-old broadcaster completed her Great Northern Marathon Challenge at approximately 3:30 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2025, in Pudsey, Leeds. The monumental effort saw her trek from the Scottish border over five consecutive days, a distance equivalent to running five marathons in five days.
Soaked through and exhausted, Sara was greeted by a cheering crowd of family, friends, and supporters as she completed her epic journey. Shortly after finishing, she appeared on stage with her BBC co-host, Scott Mills, where she emotionally reflected on the immense challenge.
Tears, Pain, and Overwhelming Support
Earlier in the week, upon learning she had already helped raise over £1,000,000£7,600,000.
Speaking to Mills just minutes after finishing, Sara joked that the endeavour was a ‘really silly idea’ and ‘such a ridiculous thing to do’. She described the challenge as ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done’, stating, ‘I’ve never known pain like it.’
Despite the ‘bitterly cold and wet and filthy’ conditions, she was buoyed by the public support along the route. ‘So many people came out,’ she said. ‘The truck drivers honking their horns, the farmers coming out, kids too and just so many homemade signs.’
A Mission Driven by Charity
Sara made sure to thank her trainer, Greg White, who has now assisted with 40 separate challenges for Children in Need. Ahead of the event, she had confessed to feeling ‘honoured and horrified in equal measure’ when selected for the marathon.
She had braced herself for ‘135 miles of hills, moors and blisters’, vowing to give it everything she had. A key source of her strength, she noted, was the encouragement from BBC Radio 2 listeners, whose support she said would ‘shove me up every incline and pull me through my toughest moments.’
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the beloved Pudsey Bear as the face of Children in Need, and Sara could think of no better way to celebrate than by raising vital funds for children across the UK who need it most.
