How much money did Vernon Kay raise for Children in Need last year?

3 hours ago

The 51-year-old began his 300-mile cycling journey on Monday, pedaling from Wrexham in Wales to Glasgow in Scotland on a specially adapted Raleigh Chopper bike. To get ready for this challenge, McGuinness trained alongside six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, who recently gained attention for revealing his unexpected terminal cancer diagnosis last month.

Children in Need - Figure 1 — Photo Evening Standard

So, how much has McGuiness managed to raise up to now, and how does that stack up against what his BBC Radio 2 colleague Vernon Kay has collected?

Paddy McGuinness's Fundraising For Children In Need

To date, McGuinness has collected nearly £6 million for the charity through his 300-mile bike ride. His journey will take him through Flintshire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfries, and Lanarkshire, culminating in his arrival in Glasgow on Friday morning.

McGuinness has collected over £6 million for Children In Need to date.

Vernon Kay's Children In Need Fundraising Total

McGuinness was motivated to take on the challenge by his friend and BBC Radio 2 co-host Vernon Kay, who undertook an Ultramarathon for the same charity last year. Kay, who is 50 years old, covered the distance from Leicester to his hometown of Bolton on foot in just four days. His trek totaled over 115 miles and he amazingly raised £6 million for the BBC’s yearly children's charity appeal.

Children in Need - Figure 2 — Photo Evening Standard

Even though McGuiness has already surpassed the distance his coworker covered last year, Kay has been a strong advocate for McGuiness’ challenge. He encouraged listeners of his radio show to contribute donations and even surprised his friend with a touching gift at the finish line.

Vernon Kay generated millions in funds last year.

In a recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, McGuinness learned about his grandfather, whom he never met, and found out that he fought in the Boer War to avoid a life of hardship. He also got to see the medal his grandfather received for his bravery during the conflict.

The medal was kept in a private collection before it went to auction, and its location was a mystery until recently. It has now been located, as the auction house managed to repurchase it from the people who acquired it in 2021. Kay is now eager to hand the medal to McGuinness when he reaches the finish line on Friday. “This completes the journey we’re on for Children in Need, aiming to lift kids out of poverty,” he stated.