Sarah Spina-MatthewsNorth East and Cumbria
BBCRadio 2 presenter Sara Cox has vowed to finish a 135-mile (217km) journey for BBC Children in Need even if she ends up “weeping and limping”.
The teatime presenter earlier finished the first leg of her trip from Kielder Forest in Northumberland in a bid to get a custom-made bear backpack to the town of Pudsey in Leeds in five days.
Locals were at the start line to cheer her on, with Morpeth Pipe Band’s Stuart Todd playing her off and Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Association trustee Andrea Foote blowing the horn.
Cox told Radio 2 she was determined to finish the Great Northern Marathon Challenge across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
“It’s definitely wet and soggy but it’s going to be ok,” she said.
“There are loads of people here. There are kids with flags.
“Everyone has got their Pudsey ears on, people have got signs – it’s lovely.”
Cox said she would be running as much of the journey as possible to make up time.
“I may be occasionally stumbling, limping and weeping, but I will getting my sorry self to Pudsey in Leeds on Friday,” she told BBC Breakfast.
The backpack, which weighs only 270 grams, was specially designed for Cox’s challenge.
“The backpack has even got a little rain mac which is kind of cute so I am going to pop that on in a minute,” she said.
“I don’t know what state he will be in to be honest by the time we get to Pudsey, but we will look after each other.”
A number of celebrities, including Olympian Mo Farah, former Sporty Spice Mel C and Louis Theroux have shared their well wishes for Cox.
“Sara, you have got what it takes. Believe in yourself,” Farah said.
A behind-the-scenes film Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way for Children in Need airs on BBC One on 19 November at 20:00.
