11 years of the BBC Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge has raised over £43m
Melanie May | 19 November 2021 | News
Matt Baker, the TV presenter and BBC Children in Need stalwart and trustee, has now raised more than £43million in total for the charity over the course of 11 years with the Rickshaw Challenge.
With the 2021 BBC Children in Need taking place today, Baker recently completed a five-day rickshaw cycle challenge with five young people, which as of yesterday had raised over £2m.
The Great Rickshaw Relay Challenge saw Matt Baker and team take on a relay-style ride in five chapters, with each rider taking a leg each, travelling through their hometowns and visiting places holding a particular significance for them along the way. Baker passed the “rickshaw baton” between these five inspirational young people, all supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects. A one-off special on BBC One shared the team’s stories but also celebrated the history of this BBC Children in Need staple, while at the same time raising money for the charity as part of its 2021 Appeal.
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Baker said:
“Rickshaw has been a huge part of my life over the last 11 years and I’m over the moon we’ve managed to find a way of it happening again, showing viewers how their donations help change young lives. Cycling with Tom, Rainbow, Liv, Harrison and Millie was great – these young people showed sheer courage, dedication and they all inspired me and I’m sure, everyone watching at home. Thank you so much to the public for their generous donations, I am ecstatic with the total funds raised so far.”
Since 2011, Baker and his teams of young people have tackled routes located across the UK including Edinburgh to Cambridge and Llandudno to Reading. This year, the team cycled just over 142 miles between them, travelling through Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Ulverston and then taking a nostalgic turn, finishing The Great Rickshaw Relay Challenge in Edinburgh, where it all started back in year one of Baker’s rickshaw journey.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.