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.
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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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Mollie, 36, reached the million mark at lunchtime.
The challenge kicked off on Monday during the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg.
Mollie pedalled through places including Towcester, Burton-upon-Trent, and Northampton.
But Mollie 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.
“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.”
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.
“They help people who are homeless, struggling with poverty and struggling with bereavement – amongst so many other things.”
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Red Nose Day 2024 essential guide
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Comic Relief telethon:
