Owain Wyn Evans starts 400-mile Children in Need ride

Owain Wyn Evans began a five-day charity cycling challenge in Glasgow on November 9, setting out on a planned 400-mile route across Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales to raise money for BBC Children in Need. The Radio 2 presenter is due to finish in Cardiff on Friday, November 13; the ride is underway, and no completion or fundraising total has been reported.

Evans set off from BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay headquarters shortly after 8 a.m. His first planned leg is 84 miles south from Glasgow to Cairnryan, where he is due to catch a ferry to Northern Ireland. The route is being published daily, and a tracker is available on the charity’s website.

Before leaving, Evans said he was nervous about the challenge and described the charity’s work as important to him. He has said he trained for the ride despite not considering himself a natural athlete. The challenge has been described as the longest fundraising effort attempted by BBC Radio 2.

A crowd gathered in Glasgow to send him off. A bagpiper played Scotland the Brave, comedian Susan Calman delivered a speech, and drummers from Samba Ya Bamba Band performed. Evans previously took part in BBC Children in Need’s 2021...