We explore how much Radio 1 DJ Arielle Free has raised so far on her Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2023 Tour De Dance challenge.
Comic Relief is a British charity that is best known for its annual Red Nose Day fundraiser, an event that sees celebrities, schools and workplaces across the country challenge themselves to raise money in the most creative ways possible.
Since its inception in 1985 by director Richard Curtis and actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry, the charity has raised over £1 billion in fundraising and has donated to causes at home in the UK and further afield in more than 40 countries abroad.
Every year a new famous face will take on some form of an endurance challenge for the charity, and DJ Arielle Free decided 2023 was her year to step up to the plate, embarking on a rather daunting Tour De Dance cycling challenge.
So how much has Arielle raised so far, and where did the Tour De Dance tour take her?
Radio 1 DJ finishes mammoth Comic Relief challenge in one piece
Free can normally be found manning Radio 1’s dedicated online dance stream, but for the past five days the Scot has been touring across England on a comically large bike, whilst still spinning her favorite dance tunes in the process.
Free’s Tour De Dance challenge began on Sunday, March 5, in York, before finishing yesterday evening, Thursday, March 9, in Liverpool.
The Red Nose Day challenge saw Free riding around on a comically large 10-seater bike for 10 hours each day, whilst playing music on her DJ decks and picking up the odd group of passengers.
Explaining her decision to commit to the Tour De Dance challenge, Free told BBC Morning Live that: “Times are really hard at the moment and a lot of charities that Comic Relief support need the funds more than ever.”
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How much has Arielle raised so far?
Draped in a saltire flag, an anxious-looking Free waited patiently as her fundraising total was revealed live on air, just minutes after she had completed the cycling challenge.
And it was revealed that much to her delight, Free had raised £504,718 for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day celebrations 2023, as of 6 pm on Thursday, March 9.
If you wanted to donate but didn’t manage to get around to it during the challenge, then don’t worry – you still have time.
Red Nose Day 2023 is not taking place until Friday, March 17, meaning you still have plenty of time to donate to the event. The phone and text lines will be open for the entire evening on Friday 17, and will likely stay open beyond the weekend’s celebrations.
Inside Arielle Free’s Tour De Dance route
Having kicked things off in York on Sunday, day two of the Tour De Dance challenge saw Free head into Leeds, where a group effort was required to help push the vehicle up a rather steep hill.
On day 3, it was the city of Sheffield’s turn to be graced by Free’s presence, with the dance host having to seek attention from a physiotherapist as she reached the halfway mark of the trip.
Free hit up Manchester on the penultimate day of the tour, before concluding her monumental escapade in Liverpool, refusing to give in to the snow and sub-zero conditions she found herself in.
Free was welcomed over the finish line by a crowd of onlookers in a heartwarming moment that was aired live on Radio 1, and one that will hopefully precede some well-earned time off for the Sterling-born presenter.
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