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The trio of friends will head into the wintry Scottish wilderness in challenge of a lifetime to raise life changing money for Red Nose Day
Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan are taking on the icy cold subarctic terrain of the Cairngorm mountains in the Scottish Highlands in Red Nose Day trek
They will face the ultimate test of willpower, determination, and survival skills
Viewers will be able to follow every step of the brutal journey in a special documentary airing on BBC One and iPlayer in the lead up to Red Nose Day
Money raised will help people through the toughest times of their lives
Red Nose Day returns on Friday 17 March
Find out how you can support the team at comicrelief.com/frozen(opens in new window)
Friday 3 February 2023: Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan have today revealed they will be taking on the unforgiving, subarctic terrain of the Cairngorm Mountains in the Scottish Highlands, in what will no doubt be a once in a lifetime challenge to raise money for Comic Relief.
Revealed live on BBC Breakfast this morning, Emma, Oti and Rylan's Big Red Nose Day Challenge will see the trio of friends spend three punishing days and two freezing nights trekking over the brutal landscape of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, immersed in a vast wintery landscape with no roads and little shelter.
To complete their mission, they will need to work as a team and become entirely self-sufficient as they take on wild camping, and – equipped with ice axes and crampons – battle the ever-changing elements to summit Cairngorm Mountain. Setting off from Braemar next Wednesday they will push their bodies to the limits, relying only on the provisions they can carry with them, in what will be one of the toughest physical and mental challenges of their lives.
Every step of their un-brrr-lievable adventure will be captured for a special documentary, produced by Twofour, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the run up to Red Nose Day on 17th March.
Already in Scotland training for their extraordinary journey, they are certainly feeling mixed emotions...
Emma Willis said: “I said yes to taking on this Red Nose Day challenge for a couple of reasons. First one being when Comic Relief asks, you should always say yes. Second one is, I love to do things that take me out of my comfort zone and I kind of made a promise to myself at the beginning of this year that I was going to do the things that scare me.
“It’s going to be difficult. And the more I talk about it, the harder it seems. I think you have to switch your brain into ‘there’s no other option, but to succeed’ mode. I got to visit a project that is funded by Comic Relief a few days ago that supports homeless young people and they were phenomenal so they will be the people at the forefront of my mind."
Rylan said: “I've never been camping in my life. I've never slept in a tent. I have never worn camping attire. The only camping I do is camping it up on a Saturday night! I think the hardest part for me throughout this entire challenge is going to be the entire challenge. I'm not going to lie to myself - this isn't what I'm used to, and this isn't what I'd ever choose to do. But here I am, and I just hope I come out of it in one piece and don't lose any veneers in the snow.
“I think what's going to keep me going through the entire challenge is obviously the girls and knowing that we're doing it for a great cause. The better we do, fingers crossed, the more money we raise. Knowing where the money will go is definitely going to be my motivation when I'm ready to chuck it all in and call the chopper."
Oti Mabuse said: “I love everything about Red Nose Day. It feels like the whole country is coming together to help one another out and I feel like in this day and age it’s so important that we actually help each other. The money that we will hopefully raise will help a lot of people. I come from a country where we need a lot of help and being in this situation – being able to help in some way – for me, is what I’ve been raised to do.
“I’m so glad I don’t have to do this by myself. Things like this, and challenges like this can get lonely, especially the fact that we’re on the mountain for three days. I’m so glad I have people who are positive, who are so kind, who are so giving."
This Red Nose Day returns at a time of great uncertainty and worry for many across the nation, as daily poverty rises. It’s never felt more needed to come together to make a difference.
The money raised will help support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food poverty here in the UK and around the world.
To find out more and show your support to Emma, Oti and Rylan, please visit comicrelief.com/frozen(opens in new window)
ENDS
ASSETS AVAILABLE
Training images: featuring Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse, and Rylan are available here(opens in new window)
Challenge launch film: available here(opens in new window)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Red Nose Day PR Team:
020 7820 2500
media@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre(opens in new window)
Out of hours enquiries: 07984 510 473
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is back on Friday 17 March 2023.
Once a year, we all come together to help those who need it most – and we have a great time doing it. So, this year, whether you bake a cake or sponsor your mates, buy a Red Nose or donate on your phone, let’s make Red Nose Day the best day ever. Together we can help people going through the toughest times of their lives and help them break free from the effects of poverty, in the UK and around the world.
Whatever you’re able to do this year - you’ll be part of something incredible and most importantly you’ll be helping to change people’s lives for the better. Visit www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window) or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest Red Nose Day content, news and information.
Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief.
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief uses the power of humour and popular culture to engage people to help others and raises money to support organisations working towards a just world free from poverty.
Our mission combines Comic and Relief. We believe that helping others can be easy and fun, even in the face of the challenges we face every day.
Everyone should be able to have a decent standard of living and to live life with dignity and respect – but right now, in the UK and around the world, poverty and injustice restrict too many of us. We know that a better world is possible. We provide funding to fantastic organisations who are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will help to alleviate poverty’s consequences, tackle related injustices, and address the link between climate change and poverty.
For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest content, news and information.
Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
