Sara Cox fundraising total: How much did Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness raise for Children in Need?
Sara Cox has finally completed her Great Northern Marathon Challenge and her fundraising total is skyrocketing - but how much did Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness raise for Children in Need in previous years?
At the start of this week, BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox set out on a truly epic test of stamina and spirit during a week-long mission to get Pudsey (the Children in Need mascot) to Pudsey (the market town in Leeds). After five gruelling days the 50-year-old completed the 135 mile journey, covering four counties and raising millions of pounds for charity.
Sara set out on Monday (November 10) in the wild beauty of Kielder Forest on the Scottish borders and finished in Pudsey in Leeds on Friday afternoon (November 14). Upon crossing the finish line sara said: “I can't believe it, oh my gosh. That was the hardest thing I've ever done. Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, I can't believe it... Hello Yorkshire! I'm an honorary Yorkshire woman now!”
Her fundraising total currently stands at an incredible £7.6 million and if you'd like to support Sara with a text or online donation, you can find all the details at the BBC website. But how does her total compare to her fellow Radio 2 DJs, Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, who took part in their own challenges in previous years?
How much did Vernon Kay raise for Children in Need?
Vernon Kay walked from Leicester's Victoria Park to his hometown Bolton Wanderers' football stadium, raising money for BBC Children in Need’s 2023 Appeal in an epic 115 mile journey.
Highlights included 'flapjacks hysteria' when Jeremy Vine paused a Radio 2 news bulletin to ensure Vernon was handed a tray of flapjacks by listener Dawn from Belton. Vernon Kay also met Kay Vernon along the way - a [nearly] namesake who regularly appeared on his show but whom he had never previously met in person.
The nation's heart went out to the 51-year-old when taking a quick rest on day two, a message from listener Barbara had him in floods of tears. Shortly after Vernon started hosting his Radio 2 show, he received a letter from listener Barbara, thanking him for “bringing an old lady into the light.”
The message stayed with him, and as soon as he heard her name read out on air during his challenge, the tears started pouring. “Just lift up those feet and keep going,” read Barbara’s message. “I’m sending you lots of hugs.”
The former model raised an impressive £6 million for Children in Need.
How much did Paddy McGuinness raise for Children in Need?
Paddy McGuinness took on the ultimate endurance ride of his life - cycling from Wales, through England, and finishing in Scotland, all to help raise money for BBC Children in Need.
Paddy's Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge took place in 2024 when he pedalled almost 300 miles from Wrexham to Glasgow. The route took him through eight counties – Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire, finishing at the BBC's Pacific Quay building in Scotland.
And Paddy didn't undertake this challenge on just any bicycle... he completed the route on an iconic, BBC Children in Need customised and modified, Raleigh Chopper bike.
The comedian raised more than £10.5 million in total meaning Sara still has a way to go if she wants to beat last year's cash pot.