Davina kicks off seven days of hell for Sport Relief in Edinburgh
TV personality Davina McCall flew in to Edinburgh tonight (Friday) on the eve of her BT Sport Relief Challenge: Davina – Beyond Breaking Point.
The first stop for the celebrity was BT’s Edinburgh HQ to meet some of her Scottish supporters as she prepared for the first leg of the punishing challenge, starting from Edinburgh Castle tomorrow morning (Saturday).
Davina said: “I’m really inspired by the support BT has given Sport Relief in previous years, and this year I’m going to be going the extra mile to raise as much money as possible.”
The challenge will see her push herself to the limit to cycle, swim and run more than 500 punishing miles from Edinburgh to London in just seven days. The first stage of the journey will take her to Keswick - a 130-mile cycle equivalent to some of the longest stages on the Tour de France.
During the week, Davina will run almost two marathons, swim across Lake Windermere and cycle more than 450 miles, negotiating the Lake District, including Scafell Pike, and the Peak District.
Davina said: “No matter how tough it gets, I’ll just keep thinking it's nothing compared to the struggles the women I've met in Kenya have to live through. Thinking of them will be the thing that keeps me going when things get tough, and I know every penny I raise will really make such a massive difference to people’s lives. I’m doing this for the girls.”
Davina is a long-time supporter of Comic Relief and no stranger to the BT Sport Relief Challenges. She was part of the celebrity team that conquered the Million Pound Bike Ride and helped John Bishop row across the Channel on his exhausting Week of Hell.
She’s pushing herself beyond breaking point to help give a brighter future to thousands of women and girls in Kenya and also transform lives in the UK and around the world. From lifting families out of extreme poverty in the slums to supporting life-saving maternal health clinics, she has seen first-hand how donations transform countless lives.
As well as sponsoring her amazing efforts, BT has also made Davina the voice of the BT Speaking Clock until March 23 (the end of the Sport Relief weekend), with 10p from every call made from a BT landline going to Sport Relief*.
BT is also declaring Thursday 13th February ‘Dial for Davina’ day, where BT will kindly donate 1p to Sport Relief for every call made from a BT home phone line and BT business line as well as every call made from a BT payphone**.
ENDS
Photo: Daring Davina is pictured at BT’s Alexander Graham House HQ in Edinburgh.
Notes to editors:
*If you call the BT Speaking Clock from a BT fixed line in the UK between January 27 and March 23, 2014 you will be helping BT to raise funds to support Sport Relief. BT will donate 10p to Sport Relief for every call made from a BT fixed line in the UK to the BT Speaking Clock during this period. Calls cost 31p from BT Residential lines. Mobile and other providers’ costs may vary and not all providers use the BT Speaking Clock. In support of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).
**BT will donate 1p for every phone call made by a BT residential and business calls and lines customer from a BT residential or business landline, every call made from a BT payphone and 25p for every call to BT’s Directory Enquiry Service 118500 from any landline or mobile between 00.01 and 24.00 on the 13/02/14. **Calls to 118500 cost 59p per call plus £2.39 per minute, or part thereof, from BT landlines (excluding BT payphones). Mobiles and other networks may vary. In support of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).
