Sara Cox begins five-day BBC Children in Need marathon challenge

Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox started her remarkable journey this morning from Kielder Forest, launching a five-day trek to carry a specially designed Pudsey Bear backpack all the way to the town of Pudsey in Leeds by 14 November. The effort opens her Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need.

Spanning 135 miles on foot through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire, this expedition is the longest in duration of any Radio 2 challenge to date. Depending entirely on her own endurance, Sara will walk and jog the route with what she described as “a generous helping of great northern grit.”

Supporters gathered at Kielder Forest Park to send her off, accompanied by music from Stuart Todd of the Morpeth Pipe Band. The official start signal was given by Andrea Foote from the Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Association.

“I am going to be running when I can and then striding along. I may be occasionally stumbling, limping and weeping, but I’ll get my sorry self to Pudsey in Leeds on Friday.”

She explained that the 270-gram Pudsey backpack even comes equipped with a raincoat to withstand the northern weather conditions. Later, speaking to Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, she shared that she felt “more relaxed than I have been for weeks” and appreciated the warm support of onlookers, saying: “People have turned up with banners and their dogs – it’s absolutely gorgeous actually.”

Author’s Summary

Sara Cox embarks on a 135-mile trek from Kielder Forest to Leeds, carrying a Pudsey backpack to support BBC Children in Need and inspiring many with her endurance and northern spirit.

OnTheRadio — 2025-11-10

Sara Cox begins five-day BBC Children in Need marathon challenge

Author’s Summary

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