Chris Kamara to join pupils and Jonny Brownlee for Children in Need running challenge
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Wakefield resident and beloved football broadcaster Chris Kamara, 68, is set to join Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee and students from Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate for a Children in Need fundraising event this November.
The ambitious challenge will see them attempt to collectively run 500 miles in just four hours.
The initiative forms part of 'Run for Pudsey', a nationwide Children in Need campaign encouraging schools across the UK to organise physical fundraising activities.
The genesis of the event began with the pupils themselves, who extended a playful challenge to six-time triathlon world champion Jonny Brownlee via a video message. Brownlee accepted, which then led to Kamara's involvement.
Kamara, a long-term resident of Wakefield and a dedicated charity campaigner, has openly shared his personal journey with apraxia, a neurological condition that has impacted his speech, balance, and movement.
He has worked hard to re-learn how to run following his diagnosis, successfully completing the Great North Run in September and setting his sights on the London Marathon next year.
Reflecting on the upcoming school challenge, Kamara emphasised the growing importance of encouraging children to be physically active.
He said: "We don't see loads and loads of kids out playing football these days. We see them on their computers and iPads. Anything that encourages them to get outside and do stuff is so important."
Despite the physical demands running now presents for him, Kamara expressed his enthusiasm for participating and supporting Children in Need. He also highlighted how running has fostered greater openness about his condition, making him more willing to communicate when experiencing difficulties or pain.
"It's the most important thing and that's the first step," he added. "That's the only way to healing."
Separately, another Children in Need challenge for 2026 will see Lindsey Burrow and BBC Look North presenter Amy Garcia embark on a five-day charity endeavour. They plan to push a specially designed trolley, carrying a red sofa, 80 miles across Yorkshire, starting from the Look North studio and concluding in Wakefield.