BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James has entered day four of his most “ludicrous challenge” yet, cycling 1,000km on a tandem to raise money for Comic Relief.
The presenter set off from Weymouth on Friday, March 13, beginning an eight-day journey that will take him across England, Wales and Scotland before finishing in Edinburgh on Red Nose Day, March 20.
On day four, James is travelling from Birmingham to Worksop, a gruelling 146.8km stretch.
So far, Radio 1 listeners have raised more than £192,000 for the charity as the DJ continues the ride, averaging around eight hours of cycling each day. He will mostly be riding solo but will be joined by special guests along the route.
The challenge, called Radio 1’s Longest Ride, is the furthest distance a Radio 1 presenter has attempted for Comic Relief – and marks James’s third major fundraiser for the charity.
What will the route be?
James is cycling 630 miles in total, taking him from the south of England to Scotland over seven days.
The route will take him through different villages, towns, and cities where Comic Relief-funded partners are providing support to those in need.
Day 1
James has begun his journey in the cycling challenge in Weymouth, Dorset, setting off during his breakfast show on March 13 before cycling to Bristol.
Day 2
On March 14, James embarked from Bristol in the morning, cycled across the River Severn and arrived in Abergavenny.
Day 3
Starting from Abergavenny on March 15, James took on a long stretch, passing close to Gloucester and Malvern before heading into Birmingham.
Day 4
From Birmingham, James is heading to Lichfield, Derby and Mansfield, before stopping in Worksop on March 16.
Day 5
After Worksop, James will continue heading north on March 17, passing through Rotherham and Doncaster before spending a night in York.
Day 6
From York, the radio star will head up toward the North East coast on March 18, passing Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool before arriving in Sunderland.
Day 7
Passing Newcastle and Rochester, James will then cross into Scotland and cycle toward Melrose on March 19.
Day 8
On the final day, James will head toward Dalkeith before finishing off his trip in the heart of Edinburgh.
What has Greg James said about the challenge?
The presenter revealed details of the journey on his Radio 1 breakfast show on Thursday, and explained he’d be joined for parts of the journey by a "mixture of well-known people and listeners".
He said: "I need them to be good cyclists. The reality of it might be that they wobble and we both fall off."
"I do think it will be a ludicrous challenge, and one that I don't know whether or not I can do. But I'm going to try it. A little bit of pain is worth the overall goal of raising loads of money for Comic Relief."
James added in a statement: "The world feels really overwhelming at the moment. There's a lot of things to worry about and everything is just feeling a lot," he says.
"I'm dedicating this challenge to anyone who feels like they're carrying life's load on their own."
Where will donations go?
Funds raised by the challenge will go towards projects that help people eat, sleep and feel safe, offering local, fast support when and where it’s needed most.
Radio 1’s Longest Ride with Greg James for Red Nose Day will be broadcast live across Radio 1, Morning Live and BBC Sounds throughout his journey.
Comic Relief chief executive Samir Patel said: “Greg taking on this ride is a remarkable show of commitment and compassion.
“Across the UK and beyond, many people are facing pressure that feels unrelenting, and the support raised through this challenge will help ease that burden in very real ways.
“Greg’s determination, alongside the generosity of everyone backing him, will help ensure that help reaches those who need it most.”
For more information, you can visit comicrelief.com/ride.
