MOLLIE King broke down in tears today after she crossed the finish line on her marathon 500km bike ride – having raised a seven-figure sum for Red Nose Day.
The Radio 1 star cycled from London to her late father’s hometown of Hull over five days and was met by fiancé Stuart Broad and their 16-month-old daughter Annabella in the Yorkshire city.
The Saturdays singer took on the epic journey in loving memory of her father Steve who passed away from a brain tumor in 2022 after being diagnosed just three months earlier.
On Friday afternoon Mollie told her Radio 1 co-star Matt Edmondson that she couldn’t have done it without his encouragement during tough moments when she thought that wouldn’t make it.
She said through tears: “You literally talked me back onto that bike when I was like, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t do it anymore. Thank you for always having my back. I love you so much.”
The star was then told she had raised £1,155,535 this afternoon and punched the air with joy.
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The challenge kicked off on Monday during the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James and Mollie, 36, reached the million mark at lunchtime.
She had some help along the way and very famous suporters, as Mollie pedalled through places including Towcester, Burton-upon-Trent, and Northampton.
But she told Radio 1 breakfast star Greg James earlier this week that she feared she wouldn’t make it.
She said during her Manchester leg: “It’s tough, it’s really tough. I’m drained I feel like I haven’t had any kind of recovery since getting off the bike.
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“My muscles are just like, ‘oh we’re doing this again?’ It’s pretty brutal. I think at the start there was so much excitement and adrenalin that kept me going and now I’m drained. It feels like every push of that peddle feels like more of a struggle.”
Mollie could be heard sobbing and continued: “Salford. The thought of getting there tonight, is that going to happen? It’s just so tiring, it’s so hard.”
Greg told her: “There are horrible lows in these things, but there will be incredible highs. Think of other things, don’t think of Salford.”
Greg contined to surprise Mollie and announced pop star Craig David was also on the line to offer his support.
Craig told Mollie to think of her late dad Stephen, who passed away in 2022 days after she became a mum – after he was tragically diagnosed with a tumour during her pregnancy.
Craig told her: “Be in the moment enough to be conscious and aware of moments, that is Steve saying he is with you on the way. That love he has for you on the other side, I know what you are doing it for, really it is for him, and he is consciously with you.”
Mollie said through tears: “Thank you so much, it really is good to think he is doing it with me.”
Earlier in the day Greg told listeners that Mollie was having a tough time and was “behind” on her cycle.
He said: “We were supposed to chat to Mollie King but Mollie’s finding it really difficult and we’re going to let her cycle a bit more because she needs to get into a zone where she is not constantly stopping, which is more than fine because we want her to focus on getting this challenge done.”
Encouraging viewers to sponsor her, he said: “The money you donate to Mollie’s Red Nose Day challenge will help tackle real problems.
“Lots of charities you fund are charities that are there when life throws up things that are unexpected, you are going about your business and then suddenly a thing happens and your life challenges. And you go, what? How am I supposed to make sense of this?”
Greg revealed one of the charities, changed the life of Mayrum, when she became the carer of her young niece, and two nephews alongside her own two children.
He said when the rug was pulled from beneath her, Comic Relief funded charity Kinship, who gave her support that she needed
Mayrum said: “Hi I’m Mayrum, I’m from Bexley, and I’m a Kinship carer. When I took on the three little ones I was in a good career, I had two teenagers, and overnight my life completely changed. For a long time I felt very depressed, it felt like I was starting out again, changing nappies, and I was not a career woman anymore. There was a loss there.
“Kinship built me up again. With their support I’ve managed to go back to work, find my voice again, get support for the kids, I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me and countless families across the UK.”
The radio star said she’s been inspired to keep pedalling thanks to her listeners and her late dad, and before the challenge began, The Saturdays singer said she didn’t hesitate to take it in.
She said: “It’s still really hard to talk about – I hate talking about him in the past tense. But when I was asked to do this, I thought I have to do it.
“I want to help people who are struggling, and that is exactly what Comic Relief does. They are amazing.
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“They help people who are homeless, struggling with poverty and struggling with bereavement – amongst so many other things.”
To get involved and donate to Mollie’s epic charity challenge, go to comicrelief.com/pedalpower.
Red Nose Day 2024 essential guide
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Comic Relief telethon:
