The nation rises up to go the extra Mile for Sport Relief 2012
More than one million Milers take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile
More than one million men, women and children have taken part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile this weekend, with a record number of people taking to the streets today (Sunday 25th March) at hundreds of Mile events across the length and breadth of the country.
In Cardiff, 3,971 people donned running gear or fancy dress to do 1, 3 or 6 miles in glorious sunshine. Cardiff Miler Ceri Landers, 62, from Cardiff said: “What an amazing event – I’ve had so much fun today but more importantly I feel like I’ve made a real difference to Sport Relief by lining up on the start line and getting sponsored - I’ve even seen a few famous faces too. Not bad for a Sunday morning.”
Famous faces joined Cardiff Milers to celebrate the UK’s biggest year of sport including Danielle Lineker, Rhydian Roberts and Rhys from Goldie Looking Chain, among others. Rhydian Roberts was first past the finish line in an impressive five minutes 40 seconds.
Celebrity Miler, Danielle Lineker, said: “I am so proud to be supporting Sport Relief and doing the Cardiff Mile this year. Sport Relief is a great day out for all the family and even better, all the money raised goes to a fantastic cause. We need everyone to go to www.sportrelief.com to do their bit and donate now!”
Joining the charge from Cardiff, Milers in cities from Brighton to Belfast completed 1, 3, or 6 miles at 16 other flagship cities around the UK, weaving their way past some of the UK’s most iconic landmarks. This year, for the first time ever, the London Mile took place along the Mall with Milers enjoying fantastic views of Buckingham Palace. Hundreds of local Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile events also took place across the country, with communities coming together to raise cash and change lives.
From families having fun in the sun to super sprinters up against the clock, there was something for everyone on the big day which was filled with energy, entertainment and excitement.
Other notable Milers who have also taken part this year include Prince Harry who ran a Sport Relief Mile in Rio de Janeiro and Prime Minister David Cameron who ran a Mile at Prestwood leisure centre in Buckinghamshire today.
Fresh from his ‘Week of Hell’ challenge, John Bishop joined thousands of people in Manchester to do 1 mile to complete his extraordinary efforts for Sport Relief.
The winner of the First Nation Home challenge was Team England, captained by Josh Lewsey, who won with a total of 36 points.[i]
The One Show 1000 also finished their relay at the London Mile. The event started 10 days ago and has seen members of the public from all over the UK join forces to run in a 1,000 mile relay from the Isle of Mull to the Mall in London.
The Sport Relief 2012 total currently stands at £52,070,587 with more still coming in from Milers getting sponsored and the public raising money in all sorts of inventive and challenging ways.
Sport Relief would like to say a huge thank you to each and every person who has donated money or given their time to go the extra mile.
Money raised from Sport Relief will be spent by Comic Relief to help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.
[i] Celebrity teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales went head-to-head in the First Nation Home challenge. Over seven days, the teams covered a gruelling distance of more than 1,000 miles around the four nations. On Sunday 25th March the teams will be joined by members of the public for the final 6-mile leg of the challenge, in a bid to be crowned the ‘First Nation Home’.
