Prince William
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales

Prince William delivers a special message for Sara to motivate her through this rainy Friday, on her final day of running - and on King Charles' birthday!

Sara, massive congratulations for what you're doing. You're so nearly there, just a little bit further. I know the people of Pudsey will all come out and welcome you with huge open arms, big hugs and, hopefully, lots of your favourite crumpets. Keep going, you've done fantastically well and the nation is so proud of you.

Here's the news Sara needed this morning, as she kicks off her final day.

As Scott Mills spoke to Sara live on Radio 2, he revealed the amazing news: she has now raised £4,100,555!

Not just that, but Sara also got a message of support in from Prince William, who sent Sara “massive congratulations” on her efforts so far!

Reacting to the news, Sara told Scott: "Oh my God, thank you so much! Thanks to everybody! That's incredible!"

Scott Mills
BBC Radio 2 Presenter

We have checked with Sara this morning. There's not much left to give. She's finding it harder than she thought. She's in so much pain. And she hasn't got much left.

But its the final day and we checked in with her to ask if she wants to run. She wants to run - she wants to keep going.

But it's a lot, as you can hear and see. But she is being looked after by people on the road that really know what they are doing. They are looking after her physically and mentally.

As Storm Claudia is forecasted to bring heavy and persistent rain to the UK, Sara is already up in Ripley ready for a wet day ahead.

Mark Chapman
Match of the Day and 5 Live presenter

Mark Chapman - aka Chappers, former Radio 1 colleague of Sara Cox and Scott Mills - has joined Radio 2 for one morning only to read the sports news. Here's a reminder of the motivational speech he gave Sara just before she set off on Day 1 of her challenge.

It has been a huge year for sport. But do you know what? This is my sporting event of the year! One woman takes on a truly incredible feat. Her stamina, her spirit and strength will be tested in this monumental task. Without doubt, the toughest thing Sara has ever taken on. Although, some of those Breakfast Shows in the early days after a night out were a bit tricky.

Over five relentless days, in the wind and the rain, over all sorts of troublesome terrain, from Kielder Forest in the Scottish Borders to Pudsey - is she ready? Can she block out the pain? This will test her mind and her body in equal measure.

135 miles all on foot, she has the world as her feet and it is all for Children in Need. We are all behind her, this is Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge!

We've been hearing that it's a wet, dark and "bitterly cold" morning to start off the final day of the challenge, so umbrella sightings might be quite common today. And well-needed too.

Sara already has her's out...

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

I'm trying to focus today on this last bit. And not on my pain. I'm trying to think of Jude, who I was with yesterday, from the One Show Challenge Squad, because Jude has had over 20 operations and he is only 20 himself.

So I'm trying to think of Jude and what he's been through with his pain and just think my pain is temporary. I'm so lucky. And I know there'll be children and young people now who are being helped by Children In Need who, for them, chronic pain is a day-in-day-out. It's just part of their life they have to life with.

I count my lucky stars that it's just temporary. This will pass, it's just sore now and I'm exhausted but that I'm really lucky.

You can follow Sara's every move today with our very handy tracker, which has been charting her progress getting Pudsey to Pudsey - available now on the BBC Children in Need website, external.

Sara was, quite understandably, sounding quite downcast and exhausted while speaking to Scott Mills on Radio 2 ahead of the final day. It has indeed been a gruelling and unrelenting week.

But she knows she has one final day left, and it'll all be worth it for a thoroughly good cause. She's raised over £3.5 million so far!

"You can do this!" Scott told Sara as she got set at the last starting line of the week. "You will do this!"

As Children in Need ambassadors Barnaby and Jacob sounded the horns, Sara was on her way again - for the final leg of the challenge, from Ripley to Pudsey.

Keep going, Sara!

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

I've not got much left in the tank. I've still got such a long way to go. It is dark and it is raining. The rain is going to be relentless today. My toes are like little cocktail sausages.

It's so cold - I don't want to go out there... I feel sick. I think it's the adrenaline and nerves.

Scott Mills
BBC Radio 2 Presenter

This is it. This is the final day.

As an amber weather warning is issued by the Met Office, Storm Claudia is forecasted to bring heavy and persistent rain in parts of the UK - not the best conditions!

Schoolchildren perform Sara Cox's jingle

Jeremy Vine surprises Sara and joins her on the road

Sara crosses the finish line on day 4!

This is it - after four days of hard graft, the end still isn't quite in sight!

Sara has run over four marathons carrying a specially made Pudsey backpack every step of the way - 21 miles stand between her getting Pudsey to Pudsey!

Starting in Ripley this morning, she'll make her way to Beckwithshaw and into West Yorkshire.

The silence of the Yorkshire moors won't last long as she approaches the roaring planes of Leeds Bradford Airport. The hills will morph into the skyline of Leeds, where she'll have to battle her way down busy roads through Bramhope, Cookridge and Horseforth.

And that's where the finish line awaits!

Making her way towards Pudsey, accompanied by Pudsey, will mean her Children in Need mission will be finally complete!

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

As Scott Mills plays 'The Final Countdown' on Radio 2, this is what Sara had to say at the finish line last night...

I do have a correction to make, I said yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life and I think I need to update you. That was so tough. OH MY GOSH that was so tough, I don't know how I did it.

If you're just joining our coverage, here are a few ways you can keep up-to-date with Sara's progress on the final day of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge for Children in Need.

Stick with us on this page for regular updates, photos, videos and the latest from Sara.

You can also follow her every move with our Sara Tracker, external.

Listen along live to Radio 2 by clicking or tapping the audio icon 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 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.

And as Sara nears the finish line this afternoon, you'll be able to watch a very special video stream of all the action right here or via BBC iPlayer.

Further ahead, don’t miss a BBC One special following Sara's journey airing next Wednesday, 19 November.

When she's not putting herself through a major endurance challenge to raise money for BBC Children in Need, Sara Cox can be found hosting Radio 2's teatime show, 4-7pm, Mondays to Fridays - including the Half-Wower mix (Mon to Thu) and All Request Friday. Sara also presents the Radio 2 Book Club podcast on BBC Sounds.

Born and raised in Bolton, Sara spent her early years on her father's farm, alongside her four siblings, before later starting a career in television and radio.

After finding fame as a host of Channel 4's The Girlie Show, followed by a brief stint on The Big Breakfast, she joined Radio 1 in 1999, going on to present the prestigious Breakfast Show between April 2000 and December 2003.

In 2013 Sara joined the Radio 2 family, launching Sounds of the 80s on Saturday evenings. She later helped raise over £1million for Comic Relief, via her 24-hour 80s Danceathon on Radio 2 in 2017. Following a spell on weekday evenings in 2018, Sara took over the teatime show in January 2019.

Beyond Radio 2, she's hosted a number of TV shows, including Morning Live, Between The Covers and The Great Pottery Throwdown, and written several books, including her memoir Till the Cows Come Home: A Lancashire Childhood.

Good morning! It's Day 5 - yes, the final day!

Radio 2's teatime host Sara Cox is undertaking the challenge of her life in aid of Children in Need - travelling 135 miles on foot over five days to deliver a very special Pudsey Bear to Pudsey town.

Over the last four days, Sara has covered a distance equivalent to more than four marathons - but still has one more day to go.

She set off from Kielder Forest on Monday in great spirits, but the journey since has been brutal, challenging and emotional. However, in true Sara Cox spirit, she's fought on. The Radio 2 listeners have kept her going and raised a whopping £3.5 million so far.

Sara arrived in the village of Ripley, North Yorkshire, last night to hundreds of well wishers, as the local church rung its bells for her.

At last the end of this hugely difficult challenge is in sight, but one almighty push of willpower is still required, on what's forecast to be a wet and windy day. Can Sara defy the elements and make it to the town that inspired the name of our famous Children In Need mascot - Pudsey?

Keep your ears and eyes peeled for more extraordinary moments and plenty of emotional surprises along the way. We'll be bringing you details of all the ways you can follow along shortly.

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

Newscast – the BBC's daily news podcast – is also taking on a bold challenge for Children in Need: a 25-hour non-stop podcast-a-thon, streaming live on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.

It began at 8am on Thursday 13 November and runs through to 9am on Friday 14 November. The marathon podcast attempt will be hosted in full by Newscast’s Adam Fleming.

Listeners can expect Newscast’s usual analysis of the day’s events, deep-dives and expert interviews all delivered with the podcast’s signature wit and insight.

If you missed Sara Cox's challenge today, you can catch up on the highs and lows of her longest day so far by listening to the programme below.

Today has seen Sara joined by family, friends, Radio 2 presenters, and a huge group of dog-walkers, all helping her along the way from Richmond to Ripley.

Sara will be back on the road tomorrow morning, setting off during The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, boosted by the fact that she's raised an incredible £3.5 million for Children in Need. She's got one more day to go, so make sure you join her and follow along!

You'll be able to listen live on this page, via the BBC Sounds app, or via your smart speaker.