Classic FM Breakfast presenter Dan Walker has completed a 200-mile, 48-hour cycle challenge across the width of the North of England for charity.
Dan Walker’s Coast to Coast Challenge saw the presenter cycle from Withernsea in Yorkshire to Liverpool to raise money and awareness for Global’s Make Some Noise.
Dan arrived in Liverpool’s docks on Friday 4th October, where he was greeted by a welcome party including the Choir With No Name, the choir charity for homeless and marginalised people.
Dan said: “It feels painful but also exhilarating to have done it. The longest I’ve ever been on a bike in my life is an hour. I committed to doing it. I knew it was going to be difficult, and the whole time, I just had in my mind the people that we are raising money for.
“I’m in unbelievable pain at the minute, but I’ve enjoyed doing it. I could lie down on the floor and just fall asleep!”
Dan set off from the North coast of Withernsea in Yorkshire on Thursday morning. After cycling 105 miles, and more than two hours behind schedule, Dan reached the halfway point in his hometown of Sheffield, where he was serenaded by the Steel City Choristers.
On Friday morning, after presenting his Classic FM Breakfast programme from 6.30am to 10am, Dan set off from Sheffield where he would face the toughest part of his 200-mile challenge.
Dan revealed: “The toughest moment was some of the climbs out of Sheffield. That was really difficult. I’ve never cycled 100 miles before in my life, and I did that the day before. I felt my body was shutting down a bit, and was screaming at me, ‘What are you doing? You should be in bed!’. But you’ve just got to keep going, haven’t you? And hearing the donations coming into Classic FM made a big difference, and a little nine year old called Scarlet in Sheffield gave me this bracelet that says ‘You’ve got this.’ Those things make a bit make a difference and keep you going.”
Dan’s journey continued through to Manchester, taking moments to visit some of the small charities and grassroots projects that Global’s Make Some Noise supports across the UK, as well as visiting music groups such as Manchester Camerata. Dan’s final leg took him to Liverpool, where he crossed the finish line outside the M&S Bank Arena at 6.30pm.
Dan’s Coast to Coast Challenge is sponsored by one of Classic FM’s long-term partners, Viking, which provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world.
To donate to Dan Walker’s Coast to Challenge for Global’s Make Some Noise, go to makesomenoise.com – or to give £40, £30, £20 or £10, text DAN40, DAN30, DAN20, DAN10 to 70766. 100% of your donation will go to Global’s Make Some Noise.