21st Mar 2010
After months of preparation, more than 165,000 people took to the streets across the entire UK today to participate in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile.
With 16 Flagship events happening in Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Gateshead, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth and Southampton – plus literally hundreds more local Mile events sweeping across the country - the nation turned out in force to do 1, 3 or 6 miles and raise cash for Sport Relief.
The sun was shining down on the happy Milers as they made their way around each course alongside a whole host of celebrities including TV presenters Sam and Mark, Dick and Dom, Radio 5 live presenter Stephen Nolan (who completed 6 miles in Belfast), Jodie Kidd, Dame Tani Grey Thompson and Louise Redknapp – to name but a few.
In fact, leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron even went the distance at the London Mile. After he had completed the route around London’s Victoria Embankment, he said: “The atmosphere today has been full of energy and excitement and I’m deeply moved by the resolve of the British public to come together to show their support for Sport Relief. Hundreds of thousands of people around the country have done their bit and it’s great to know that all the money raised will be helping vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both here in the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.”
Also in London, marathon man Eddie Izzard did everything within his power to spur on the Great British public by taking part in every single Mile wave – running with all the London Milers on the day. Not content with completing 43 marathons in 51 days last summer to raise cash for Sport Relief, the true legend decided that it was time to help the nation run their Sport Relief Socks off too.
Eddie Izzard said: "I ran all eight waves in London so I could run with the 16,000 people here. Everyone gave me such amazing support during my marathon challenge the least I could do was run with them today. It was great to see so many people running today - everyone can do the Sport Relief Mile and that's what's so brilliant about it."
It wasn’t just in the capital that thousands of people went the distance – from tiny tots to great grandparents, everyone turned out in force across the UK to show their support and complete 1, 3 or 6 miles. Many even went the extra mile, donning fancy dress – from Superheroes (including, Batman and Robin, Spiderman, Superman and Banana man!) to hotdogs and even just a pair of Speedos, it was a sight for sore eyes.
To top it off, the Hula Hoops Hoopathon also took place at the 16 Flagship Sport Relief Mile events and official Guinness World Record adjudicators recorded the most amount of people hula hooping simultaneously across the UK for two minutes which set a new world record.
All of the money raised through today’s huge event and across the whole of the Sport Relief campaign will help people living unimaginably tough lives across the UK and the world’s poorest countries.
A massive thank you goes to everyone who has fundraised, donated or secured sponsorship for taking part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile.
If you’ve not yet made a contribution and you’d like to now, please make a donation today.
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