Vernon Kay has raised more than £1.6million for Children in Need during his brutal Ultra Ultramarathon Challenge that has left him ‘absolutely shattered’.
The BBC Radio 2 presenter, 49, kicked off the ambitious four-day marathon at 9am on November 14, in a bid to raise money for Children in Need.
Starting in Leicester’s Victoria Park, the radio host will finish up in his hometown at the Bolton Wanderers’ football stadium on November 17.
The star will cover around 115 miles all on foot, and so far he has raised a whopping £1,614,345 for BBC Children in Need, according to BBC Radio 2.
On November 15, the broadcaster tackled the Peak District, where he was cheered on by onlookers after completing more than 40 miles there on day two of the four-day Ultramarathon.
Charitable man: Vernon Kay has raised more than £1.6 million for Children in Need as part of an ambitious four-day marathon
He ran over 30 miles on his third day, arriving at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium on November 16, before taking on the run from Sretford to the Bolton Wanderers’ stadium.
During Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show earlier on Thursday, Vernon chatted about his progress, and was called a ‘hero’ for his ambitious challenge.
He said: ‘It was brilliant! It was awesome and do you know what? A lot of people have showed up this morning as well, they’ve been here for quite a while, and I’ve got loads of friends that live in Buxton.
The broadcaster continued: ‘I call them the Rave Brigade from up Buxton, and the Derbyshire Dales, and they’ve all come out to see me.
‘[It] brings back so many happy memories from when we were out raving and whatnot, its brilliant.’
Zoe, 52, then quizzed the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star about how he was physically holding up, when he admitted he was ‘absolutely shattered’.
Vernon said: ‘It was an interesting one yesterday because I was absolutely shattered after the 40 miles.
‘I came in and your body pumps itself full of adrenaline when you see everyone smiling and clapping and cheering, and whooping and hollering.
‘And then there’s that lull, where you just sit down and you kind of slowly take it all in and try and compute what’s happened.
Challenge: Starting in Leicester’s Victoria Park, the radio host will finish up in his hometown at the Bolton Wanderers’ football stadium on November 17
Support: Vernon has been cheered on by huge crowds during his challenge and he stopped to pose for snaps with schoolchildren and teachers, who held up a sign to support him
‘And then I got into my bedroom and I just literally collapsed on the bed! And this morning, I couldn’t wake up and I felt really [sick].
‘I said to the gang I said, ‘I feel sick this morning, I feel a bit light-headed, stomach’s not the best’, and they were like, ‘Oh it’s to be expected, because of everything that you’ve done’.’
Vernon’s parents also offered their support for him during an appearance on BBC’s Jo Whiley Show.
His mother Gladys said: ‘Hello Vern. Right now listen, you’re doing wonderfully. Honestly, I can’t tell you, all this love and support that you’re getting is getting to me.
‘I’m so so proud, I’m filling up because you know how much you’re loved and to hear these comments about you online and listening to all these people and writing it up to my son, it’s just too much’.
Fans are able to donate at https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/R2VernonChallenge.
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