Day 1 may be complete but she's got 4 days and more than 100 miles still to go! Sara needs your donations to keep her going on this huge challenge.

If you'd like to support Sara with a text or online donation, you can find all the details below or at bbc.co.uk/sara

Sara joined Trevor Nelson live on Radio 2 just as she crossed the finish line.

Trevor: Well done Sara, how do you feel?

Sara: Done in but very happy, amazing. I've just ran an ultramarathon, I've done over 26 miles! I want to dedicate it to every child that has been helped by the Children in Need projects, I want to dedicate to any child that has been teased for having wonky legs or walking funny or running funny like I always was at school.

I would like to also mention my big brother David who we lost in 2019; he was a real Iron Man, he was a multiple Iron Man and incredible athlete and I’m hoping I’ve just got a bit of strength from him today and it’s been amazing, and thanks to everybody that has come out!

Trevor: Bless you Sara, absolutely brilliant, well done Sara.

Sara: It’s dark and it’s raining, but the crowd is amazing!

Trevor sounds incredibly proud of Sara, who beams as the crowd cheers. Hexham is getting and giving a lot of love today.

Day 1 of Sara Cox's challenge has come to an end, it’s been a magical day.

Wow, we can't believe it - the total so far for Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge in aid of BBC Children in Need is £189,741!

"Wow, that is amazing!" Sara said, after calling the total out to the crowd. "Thank you so much to everybody, every fiver, every tenner, it all makes a difference."

We're so proud of our Sara for smashing her first day and raising so much money. Your donations have pushed her through today and will keep motivating her throughout the week - head to bbc.co.uk/sara to find out how to donate if you haven't yet.

She's done it!

After almost 27 miles on foot, starting off in Kielder Forest on the Scottish border earlier today, Sara's reached Hexham, the first of her daily destinations. She was played in by cheers from a huge crowd and the Hexham Samba Band, and a very happy Pudsey was there to greet her.

It'll soon be time for Sara to rest up - as the next leg of her challenge will see her climbing to the highest peaks of the whole five days.

John the drummer joined Trevor live on air ahead of Sara's arrival. The band are ready to meet Sara in Hexham with glowsticks on their drums, fairy lights, Pudsey ears on and a lot of energy! John and his band are getting the crowd warmed up ready for Sara to cross the first day line.

Sara has no idea the band will be there to greet her, we know she will love it!

We're hearing that Sara will be at her finish point in Hexham any minute now... Go on Sara! Follow her progress on the Live Tracker, external.

Sara's had a few famous friends pushing her forwards over the last couple of hours!

Steve Cram, the ex-Olympian and world-record-breaking runner, joined her to run for a bit, which gave her a lot of motivation. "We just went through a little village called Wall, and a local guy, some chancer called Steve Cram, randomly joined me!" she joked. "An absolute legend... I got him to run along with me."

And Trevor had another surprise for Sara. "A lot of people don't know this but Sara is a bit of a thespian," Trevor Nelson revealed on air - it turns out, Sara had a cameo in an episode of Hustle in 2006, so they brought on the show's star Adrian Lester.

"Have you just gone past my wall?" Adrian joked, as Sara heads past Hadrian's Wall towards the final pit stop.

"It's looking in good nick, don't you worry!" Sara laughs.

Looking for inspiration for her big challenge, Sara asked Adrian what he does when he needs to dig deep before a big theatre role. "I just focus on the hot bath afterwards!"

Unfortunately, it's a cold bath that's waiting for Sara when she gets there... but thankfully the car beeps, people cheering and the love and support coming from all over the country is keeping her warm!

"Keep going Sara, we love you!"

Sara's final destination today will be the market town of Hexham, in Northumberland. Let's take a closer look at where she will be recharging overnight.

Hexham is located on the south bank of the River Tyne, 20 miles west of Newcastle, a long way from Kielder Water where she started this morning.

The town is drenched in history and home to the historic landmark Hadrian's Wall, which Sara has just passed. We cant wait to see the photos of the two national treasures together!

Famous names from Hexham include the actor and singer Robson Green and in the words of Robson and Jerome, Sara... "You'll never walk alone!"

Sara has been past so many schools on her journey so far today, with more than 20 miles under her belt already.

Jude Long, Head Teacher of Humshaugh First School, was there to cheer Sara on, alongside a very excited group of children from the school. Speaking live on air to Trevor Nelson, Jude and 50 of her pupils brought the joy and energy that Sara needs to push through as the sun starts to set. "We've been at fever pitch since 8 o'clock this morning!"

As the pupils chanted Sara's name, Trevor said, "If that doesn't keep you going, I don't know what will. Mayhem! Chaos! That's what it's all about."

Sara has been spurred on by the cheers of all the schoolchildren and teachers who have come out to greet her along the way today. She is so grateful for their support - and let's not forget all the amazing hand-made signs! Check out some pictures from earlier today below.

Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need is well underway, and the end of day 1 is drawing close!

If you'd like to support Sara and spur her on towards her first finish line with a text or online donation, you can find all the details below or at bbc.co.uk/sara

C'mon Sara! It's the last push to the final pit stop of the day, and look how far she's come already. You can follow her progress on the Live Tracker, external.

Sara is making great progress, but she needs your support - and if you're planning to meet her there, get your cheers ready!

Image source, Publicity Photo

Sara's just been surprised on the road by her best mate Clare!

Surviving their self-described "chaotic" teenage years alongside each other, Sara and Clare met whilst on a modelling job in South Korea. Bonding over a fondness of caffeine and cigarettes, the pair hit it off immediately.

Flash-forward a few years and they remain bezzies, despite having lived far apart for years. Together they host the podcast The Teen Commandments on the trials and tribulations of motherhood and parenting teens - they have five between them!

As well as being there for each other during the highs, they have also supported each other during tough periods in life - The Great Northern Marathon Challenge is no exception.

"I was hoping it was Daniel Craig when they said it was a surprise but its just my bezzie!" Sara joked on seeing her long-time pal Clare Hamilton. "No, I want you more than Daniel Craig, babe - I want to cuddle you!"

The inseparable pair were reunited during Sara's pit stop on Trevor Nelson's show, calling live from The Crowne Inn pub. An emotional moment - with love and laughter in the air, spirits are high.

Clare will be on standby all week to share her support when Sara needs it - there's nothing like the bond of two besties. Sara confessed that when she starts to feel grumpy, Clare is the only person in the world she can be horrible to and know they won't care!

Clare and Sara got the chance to enjoy some quality time together before Sara set off again: "This is the first time we've been in a pub together and just had a cup of tea!"

Sara spoke to Trevor Nelson and was surprised to find out she's completed over twenty miles of her 135 mile journey already.

This is the longest distance Sara has ever run before in her life!

Sara said the journey so far had been "an emotional rollercoaster".

"I’m running when I can and when it’s sore I take it a bit steadier until the pain eases... One minute you feel like you’re struggling a bit and then a lorry goes past and gives me a 'honk honk' and then I’m buzzing again, waving at sheep and having a great time!"

We told you earlier that Sara was greeted by two alpacas as she kicked off her challenge this morning.

But now here's some very wholesome footage of Sara being given a loving kiss from an alpaca - well, via a carrot, at least!

Sara joked: "Don't tell my husband!"

Today's Pause for Thought was a dedication to Sara Cox's epic challenge and her worthy cause.

Miriam Lorie joined Scott Mills this morning to offer some poignant words of encouragement to Sara and a reflection from Psalm 98, which references "making a joyful noise".

Miriam urged Sara to find moments for spiritual reflection in the quiet and the noise of her journey ahead:

"I imagine that in the next five days you'll experience lots of clapping and cheering as well as moments of silence and calm... I hope that through the sore muscles and blisters, you might be able to find some spiritual moments, not just in the blissful quiet but in the noise of the nature and people there too."

Trevor Nelson
BBC Radio 2 Presenter

Beyoncé - Crazy in Love

Sara, huge respect for what you're doing for Children in Need. To run the Great Northern Marathon takes heart, focus and real determination, and you have all of that in spades. Stay in the zone! But when you need that extra boost, there's only one choice, as far as I'm concerned. The drums, the horns! It's Beyoncé and Crazy in Love!

From Scott Mills and Greg James to Michelle Visage and Jeremy Vine, hear more stars picking Songs For Sara Cox on BBC Sounds.

Paula Radcliffe
Legendary marathon runner

I think, in a perverse way, you have to quite like a challenge to be drawn to the marathon.

Anybody getting ready for a marathon, we talk about how you’ve got to find your coping technique and you have to find something that you can do. Some people sing a song, some people think about the reason why they’re doing it, the motivation, some imagine they’re on a beach somewhere. I used to count!

It’s the simplest thing you can think about, so that you’re not thinking about what hurts, how far I’ve got to go and the blister that is rubbing wherever it is. You’re not thinking about any of that. You’re thinking about what number comes next, one foot in front of the other until you come through it!

If you’re just joining our live coverage of Sara Cox’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need, here’s what’s been going on…

• Radio 2’s Sara Cox got things underway in the stunning Kielder Forest, right on the Northumberland-Scottish border - lacing up for the first leg of her epic five-day, five-marathon journey all the way to Pudsey, Leeds!

• She’s taking on an incredible 135 miles on foot - through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire - carrying Pudsey Bear from border to heartland, powered by pure northern grit and a whole lot of listener love!

• Sara hit the trail just before 8:20am, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd of supporters - with a piper, a horn-blower, and plenty of BBC Radio 2 listeners giving her a rousing send-off!
• At Tarset Village Hall, Sara received a traditional welcome sung by The Song Reivers Choir and was greeted with baked goods.
• Her first stop was near Bellingham, where Sara had her trainers blessed with magical well water. Why not?!
• Sara ran through some incredible scenery!
• Despite having a cold, Sara has remained positive and upbeat due to incredible support from the public.

• She's even received some messages from celebrity sportspeople including Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe to spur her on!

Stay tuned for regular updates, photos and videos as Sara continues her epic journey!

Keep listening to BBC Radio 2 to hear more from Sara during Trevor Nelson's show between now and 4pm.

You can listen along live on Radio 2 by clicking or tapping the 'Listen Live' button at the top of the page. Or ask your smart speaker to play BBC Radio 2 - get more help with using smart speakers here.

You can also take Sara with you via the BBC Sounds app if you're on the move - if you've not downloaded it, here's some help in getting started.

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

Sara Cox gives an update after stopping for a short break along her journey.

The pub was lovely. I had half a Carrs pasty - very famous in Bolton, so it was a taste of home. With a little bit of mash and gravy.

Then a lovely man came and rubbed my leg a bit. My left leg feels fantastic, but there's different things going on with my right. But it's fine, we'll battle on! We just need to keep pushing through now!