Prince William Praises Sara Cox for Incredible Fundraising Drive for Children in Need

Prince William has publicly lauded BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox for her remarkable fundraising feats on behalf of BBC Children in Need. Speaking via a surprise, pre-recorded video sent to the broadcaster, the Prince of Wales congratulated her for her extraordinary efforts on November 14, just as she nears the finish line of her five-day challenge (Source: Royal-Insider, Express & Star).

In his message, William said: “Sara, massive congratulations for what you’re doing. You’re so nearly there, just a little bit further.” He added that he knows the people of Pudsey will welcome her warmly, “with huge open arms, big hugs, and hopefully, lots of your favourite crumpets.” He praised her tenacity, telling her, “Keep going, you’ve done fantastically well, and the nation’s so proud of you.”

Overcome with emotion when she heard the Prince’s words played live on Scott Mills’s Radio 2 breakfast show, Sara responded: “Wow, thanks, William. Thank you. Thanks very much.” Clearly, the encouragement came at exactly the right moment (Source: Royal-Insider).

A Gruelling 135-Mile Challenge Across Northern England

Sara embarked on what she called her Great Northern Marathon Challenge, covering the equivalent of five marathons in five days, a total of 135 miles. She set off from Kielder Forest, on the Scottish border, and traversed four counties — Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire — before crossing the finish line in Pudsey, Leeds, carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack every step of the way (Source: The Independent, RadioToday).

At 50 years old, Sara described the journey as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Along the route she battled freezing wind, driving rain, and persistent physical pain, including shin soreness and fatigue. But she also received incredible support from onlookers: truck drivers honked their horns, farmers stopped their work to cheer her on, and passersby offered encouragement and shelter (Source: RadioToday, The Independent).

Millions Raised for Children in Need

By the time Sara reached Pudsey at around 3:30 pm on November 14, she had raised an astonishing total. According to RadioToday, the final amount surpassed £7.6 million (£7,651,855), making her challenge one of the most successful for a Radio 2 fundraiser (Source: RadioToday).

Earlier reports during her journey also noted milestone donations — as she passed through various legs, she frequently updated listeners on just how much money had been raised. Her message of gratitude was constant: “Everybody just giving a fiver or a tenner did it, that is amazing … thank you so much,” she said aloud. The fact that so many ordinary people contributed meant a great deal to her (Source: Royal-Insider, Express & Star).

A Message of Empowerment for Women Over 50

As she pressed on through the challenge, Sara reflected on her age, sending a clear message to women in their 50s. “We are not women of a certain vintage, we are not women of a certain age, we are women over 50,” she said. “It’s just the beginning when you get to 50, I’m loving being 50.” Her words resonated with many fans, who praised her strength, determination, and willingness to challenge stereotypes about aging (Source: The Independent).

Community, Emotion, and Final Moments

When she reached Pudsey, Sara was greeted by a crowd including her support team and a surprise musical performance by Melanie C, who sang to welcome her in (Source: RadioToday). Emotionally, she described the finish as “maddest, most painful, wonderful thing I’ve ever done.” Despite her exhaustion, she said that the experience — the people, the weather, the journey itself — was deeply rewarding.

In a final note, William’s message seemed to be the perfect boost. His words — about coming home, crumpets, and national pride — clearly meant a lot to Sara, who later described the challenge as a “rollercoaster” but said she felt humbled by the support she’d received (Source: RadioToday).