TV favourite Paddy McGuinness couldn't help but let the tears flow after he completed the epic Children In Need cycling challenge, hitting an emotional high point today. Pushing himself beyond the usual limits, the Bolton-born celebrity took on the mammoth task of the Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge, pedalling a jaw-dropping 300 miles from Wrexham AFC to Glasgow aboard a classic Raleigh Chopper.
Preparing for this huge feat, Paddy turned to none other than Sir Chris Hoy for top-notch advice, undergoing a strict training schedule courtesy of the cycling legend. Paddy has now triumphantly reached BBC Scotland's HQ in Glasgow after his massive charity ride from Wales to Scotland on behalf of BBC Children In Need. Moments before 9 am, he was pleasantly shocked by a visit from Sir Tom Hunter who generously vowed to match every single donation up to a whopping £3 million via the Hunter Foundation.
He found himself cheered on by throngs of people who gathered along the city streets as he pedalled his way to the Pacific Quay of BBC Scotland, marking his arrival at exactly 10:28 am. Zoe Ball was there to greet him as she hosted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show live from the foyer. As he neared the city on Friday morning, Paddy remarked on how Glasgow "lit up in sunshine", making it to Pacific Quay around 10:30 am, reports the Mirror.
The Top Gear host embarked on his arduous journey on Monday from the historic grounds of Wrexham AFC's Racecourse Ground and tackled the lengthy 300 miles for Radio 2’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge on the bike he'd dreamt of as a child, the Raleigh Chopper. To date, a staggering £7,556,853 has been gathered for Children In Need.
Upon completing his incredible journey, Paddy McGuinness shared the physical toll it took on him: "Every morning when I woke up everything was aching and it was always dark and cold but I've been saying it for the last few days, when you get on the bike, and you get on the road and everyone comes out it just spurs you on."
He touched on the indescribable experience, "Even though we're filming stuff and putting things on social media; until you're actually in that moment, I will never be able to get it across fully what it felt like."
Speaking of the overwhelming support, he added, "All the different sounds, all the cities, all the communities. Everyone came out and everyone were together for something. And all those faces, all the kids, all the nurseries, all the primary schools, all drawing pictures of Patch - none of them had a clue who I were - but it was just so beautiful to see and the streets were lined with people." Paddy reflected deeply on the event, "Honestly it's a moment in time I'll take with me to my grave. I'll never ever forget it. It's been amazing."
At the break of dawn, at 6.45am, Paddy embarked on the final leg of his epic cycle ride, pushing through the last 18.5 miles to complete an extraordinary near-300-mile journey from Wrexham to Glasgow over five gruelling days aboard his trusty little Raleigh Chopper, endearingly dubbed Patch. Astonishingly, the fundraising total achieved by 6.50am stood at an impressive £6,577,494.
Paddy McGuinness opened up to Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 show, sharing: "As usual at this time of the morning, everything is sore, everything is aching but again I've just rocked up here where I'm going to set off, it's dark, it's a little bit drizzly, and people are already here to wish me well so you can't be in a positive mind about that.."
