Quick Read
- Sara Cox will run 135 miles over five days for BBC Children in Need, starting November 10.
- Her route spans Kielder Forest to Pudsey, crossing Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire.
- She draws motivation from celebrity encouragement and Bolton community pride, including support from Dwayne Johnson and Paddy McGuinness.
- This is Radio 2’s longest-ever charity challenge, with live updates and fundraising through BBC channels.
Sara Cox’s Epic Journey: More Than Just Miles
When BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox steps out into the brisk air of Kielder Forest on November 10, she’ll be chasing more than just the finish line. She’s taking on the Great Northern Marathon Challenge, a daunting 135-mile journey across four counties and five days, all in the name of BBC’s Children in Need. It’s the kind of feat that demands not only physical stamina but also a deep well of personal resolve—a blend of ambition, vulnerability, and heart.
For Cox, the challenge is as much about community as it is about charity. The route itself is a tapestry of Britain’s scenic wonders: the wild moorlands of Northumberland, the rolling hills of West Yorkshire, and villages where local pride runs deep. She’ll finish in Pudsey, Leeds, home to the charity’s iconic bear mascot—fitting, since she plans to carry a Pudsey Bear backpack throughout her trek, a visible symbol of the cause she’s championing.
Bolton Beginnings: Fueling Up on Nostalgia
Preparation for such an endeavor isn’t just about hours on the treadmill. Over the weekend, Cox returned to her roots in Bolton, indulging in chips and gravy at The Village Chippy in Little Lever—a ritual that’s less about calories and more about connection. In a candid Instagram post to her half-million followers, she declared the chippy her “favourite thing about Bolton,” a nod to the comfort food and memories that ground her ahead of the storm.
The visit doubled as a celebration for her best friend Clare Hamilton’s 50th birthday at The Black Friar in Salford. Their friendship, forged in “chaotic” teenage years, now underpins their podcast, The Teen Commandments. Yet, even amid festivities, Cox kept her focus: describing herself as a ‘Sober Cinderella,’ she left early to prepare for the physical and mental demands ahead.
Training, Strategy, and Celebrity Encouragement
Cox’s approach to the marathon is methodical but realistic. She’s broken down the monumental distance into mental segments: “The way I’m doing it, mentally, is I’m doing lots of five miles because at the end of five or six miles, that’s when somebody will put some ice on my knee and hopefully give me a bar of chocolate.” It’s this granular, step-by-step mindset that transforms an overwhelming challenge into a series of attainable goals.
Support has come from unexpected quarters. Hollywood star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson sent her words of encouragement, playfully declining a piggyback offer but urging her to visualize the pride she’d feel in pushing her limits. “Just picture how you’d feel if you didn’t do it, if you didn’t push yourself that extra bit,” he told her—a message that’s stuck with Cox, fueling her determination.
Closer to home, fellow Radio 2 presenter and Bolton native Paddy McGuinness, who raised over £10 million in his own endurance cycle challenge for Children in Need last year, advised Cox to “block out distractions and focus on the training.” The baton of charity and resilience, it seems, passes naturally among Bolton’s best.
The Road Ahead: Raising Awareness Mile by Mile
From November 10 to 14, Cox will traverse Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire. The journey will be chronicled on BBC Radio 2, inviting listeners to share in the highs, lows, and everything in between. This is Radio 2’s longest-ever charity challenge, and Cox’s progress will be a focal point on air and online, culminating in the BBC Children in Need broadcast on November 14.
But the real finish line isn’t just a physical location. Cox is running for the charities that work day in, day out to support children and families across the UK. “It just shines a light on all these charities that just keep on keeping on,” she said in a recent interview with the PA news agency. Her hope? That her efforts, amplified by the national spotlight, will translate into greater awareness and crucial funds for organizations making a difference in young lives.
Personal Privilege and Public Responsibility
For Cox, saying ‘yes’ to the Children in Need challenge was never in doubt. “When you get asked to do the Children In Need challenge, because it’s a huge privilege wrapped up in some extreme physical exertion, you can’t say no to it,” she explained. There’s a palpable sense of responsibility that comes with being chosen as the face—and the feet—of such a high-profile fundraising effort.
The challenge is not just about personal achievement; it’s about representing a collective hope. Cox’s journey is a bridge between the communities she traverses and the countless children and families who rely on the support Children in Need provides. Each mile is a testament to the power of individual action magnified by collective generosity.
How to Support and Stay Connected
Listeners and viewers can follow Cox’s marathon journey through live updates on BBC Radio 2 and the BBC Children in Need broadcast, scheduled for November 14 from 7 PM to 10 PM. Donations can be made via the BBC’s website, with every contribution helping to fund critical projects across the UK.
As Cox prepares to lace up her trainers and shoulder her Pudsey Bear backpack, the spirit of Bolton, the encouragement from friends and celebrities, and the collective goodwill of the nation travel with her. It’s a challenge measured in miles, but its true impact will be felt in homes and hearts far beyond the route’s end.
By embracing both her local roots and national reach, Sara Cox transforms a grueling physical test into a celebration of resilience and community. Her journey underscores how personal stories and public causes can intersect to create lasting change—one step, one mile, one act of kindness at a time.
