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Jo Brand has completed her BT Sport Relief Challenge: Jo Brand’s Hell of a Walk and has already raised £655,481.
Sport Relief legend John Bishop was there to welcome her over the finish line at the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool.
An exhausted Jo described herself as “shattered” after clocking up an incredible 135.7 miles in her journey, which took her from east to west across the width of the country.
“I wanted to do this to raise shed loads of money for Sport Relief, because it helps a huge amount of people. Especially projects that mean a lot to me,” she told John. “But also, I wanted to show fat old women that they could walk!”
Jo also discovered that she had burnt over 40,000 calories and taken more than 500,000 steps since started her journey at the Humber Bridge. Even more importantly, she raised an incredible amount for Sport Relief, with money still coming in. Her final total will be revealed during the Sport Relief Weekend of 18th-20th March.
Talking about her journey Jo said: “It was so windy - can you believe someone of my weight was blown over by the wind?! But it was so fantastic to walk across a massive swath of the country and see how generous, friendly and community minded people are. I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s overwhelming.”
The challenge was sponsored by BT, a long-term supporter of Comic Relief challenges since 2009. Jo set off on Friday 22nd January and along the way battled blisters, aching limbs, uncertain terrain and Storm Jonas with its driving rain, hail and 60mph gale force winds that literally blew her off her feet.
The terrain and weather were so severe that they even forced minor route changes following advice from her trainer Professor Greg Whyte and her medical team. In the end, she reached the finish in Liverpool having completed an incredible 135.7 miles in conditions described by Greg as “brutal”.
Jo was also joined along the way by famous friends including Bill Bailey, John Bishop, Billy Bragg, Alan Davies, Lesley Garrett, Sue Johnston, Gabby Logan, Lee Mack, Davina McCall, Louise Minchin and Ricky Tomlinson.
Davina, who joined her on day five, said: “It’s tough and she’s been amazing. She’s done a great job. In the back of her mind keeping her going is what Sport Relief does.
She knows where the money goes and how important this is. This is to raise money for a fantastic charity which helps amazing causes all over the world and here in the UK.”
All the ups and downs of Jo’s challenge will be captured for a BBC documentary, to be broadcast in the run up to Sport Relief Weekend, which is taking place from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th March
If you’ve been inspired by Jo, then you can take on your own challenge by signing up to the Sport Relief Games.
