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National hero and diving superstar Tom Daley is taking on Tom Daley’s Hell of a Homecoming this Red Nose Day
The challenge will see Tom take on a mammoth journey by foot, water, boat and bike from London to his hometown of Plymouth
The action will be filmed for a BBC One and iPlayer documentary to air in March
Money raised will help support vital life changing work, tackling issues including homelessness, domestic abuse, poverty and mental health problems in the UK and around the world
Red Nose Day returns on Friday 18th March
For more information and to support Tom visit comicrelief.com/tomschallenge(opens in new window)
Wednesday 9th February 2022 – Fresh from winning his first Olympic gold medal, Tom Daley OBE is now facing an extraordinary new challenge of a lifetime that is worlds away from the comfort of the diving board. Tom will be tackling a gruelling four-day journey from London to Plymouth by foot, water, boat and bike, all to raise life changing cash for Red Nose Day.
Rather than take a well-earned break from his Tokyo 2020 Olympic success, Tom has thrown himself into the deep end for Red Nose Day for his biggest feat since his gold medal win, as he signs up to a physically and mentally demanding challenge like no other - Tom Daley’s Hell of a Homecoming.
The challenge will see the world champion push himself to the absolute limit in a bid to learn and master four new Team GB disciplines – rowing, marathon running, open-water swimming and cycling.
Over four long and exhausting days, Tom will travel from the London Aquatic Centre in Stratford, where he won his first ever Olympic medal in 2012, to his hometown of Plymouth where he will no doubt receive a glorious hero’s welcome. Along the way, Tom will pass through significant places and locations from his life and be joined by friends, family and fellow Olympians, while calling on the British public to get behind him more than ever..
It’s set to test Tom’s fitness and drive like never before, and all of the highs and lows will be captured at every moment along the way for a special one-hour BBC One and iPlayer documentary, produced by Twofour, to air in March, ahead of Red Nose Day which returns on Friday 18th March.
Tom said: “When I first heard about this challenge, I honestly thought it was going to be impossible as I’ve never done anything like this before. Although I’ve trained for the Olympics, I’ve never done any kind of endurance training, let alone swimming in freezing water and let me tell you, it’s cold.
“I said yes to the opportunity as it’s one hell of a challenge and most importantly, it will be raising money for Comic Relief and for people who really need it. I really hope my journey inspires people to donate. The thought that this challenge might actually make a difference to someone’s life, someone who is struggling, is what will help me push through every step.
“I’d love for people to get out on the streets and come and say hello while we’re doing this challenge - I’m going to need all the support that I can get. Most importantly, even if you can’t come outside and say hello, it would mean so much to so many people if you could donate what you can to Red Nose Day.” Tom is no stranger to an intensive training schedule, however his preparation for this challenge has taken him out of his comfort zone.
Since December, Tom has trained for six hours a day, working with a team of experts in each of the four disciplines to ensure he’s fit enough to complete the challenge. Trainers include Mark Buckingham (British Triathlon/Brownlee Fitness), Shane Benzie (Running Reborn), Kerri Ann Payne (Open Water Swimming 2x World Champion), Nicola Benavente (British Rowing) and Gareth Ziyambi (British Diving).
Gareth Ziyambi, Tom’s diving coach and physio, commented: “As an Olympic athlete, Tom is used to vigorous training, however this challenge really is a test of his endurance. His training schedule has involved a change to training for four endurance events in cold outdoor conditions which is completely new to him. He’s had to train in a very carefully planned and controlled regime, learned the basic techniques of rowing, swimming and running with technical experts in order to minimise the stresses placed on his body and finally train his body deal with performing in very cold conditions. I think the ultramarathon and the open water swim will be the biggest tests, but Tom will approach this like he has every other challenge he's had to date, with the belief and determination to succeed and achieve his end goal – raising as much money as possible for the people and children supported by Comic Relief."
The money raised by Tom Daley will help support vital life changing work, tackling issues including homelessness, domestic abuse, poverty and mental health problems in the UK and around the world.
To find out more and support Tom, go to comicrelief.com/tomschallenge(opens in new window)
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief raises money to support people living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world. Through humour and stories of hope, we have shown that people can make a massive difference.
Comic Relief believes that those who are closest to the issues have the best solutions, and so works with organisations and people with direct experience of these challenges. We fund hundreds of amazing organisations who support the most vulnerable people and communities in society, many of whom have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or who have been forced to flee their homes, women and families at risk of domestic abuse and those struggling with mental health problems.
Comic Relief is continuing to support funded organisations in their response to the coronavirus crisis to ensure their vital work continues.
For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com
Comic Relief, which is the operating name of Charity Projects, is registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland)
About Red Nose Day 2022
Red Nose Day is back on Friday 18th March 2022 and hopes to inspire people across the UK to make a difference, no matter how big or small. This Red Nose Day, we want to remind people that they have the power to change lives.
Money raised by Red Nose Day will help people in the UK and around the world live free from poverty, violence and discrimination, and support people with their mental health.
Visit https://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday/ or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest Red Nose Day content, news and information.
Red Nose Day is an annual fundraising campaign run by Comic Relief.
Comic Relief, which is the operating name of Charity Projects, is registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland)
