University supports Children in Need Thousand Mile Challenge| News

November 2025

'Bear' ing the brunt of blisters! University supports Children in Need Thousand Mile Challenge

By Claire Huggins

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Pudsey Bear was taking all the blame this week, as BBC Radio WM undertook their 25-mile stage of The Thousand Mile Challenge for Children in Need.

And if walking 25 miles doesn鈥檛 seem that tough 鈥� the challenge hit home as each mile had to be done by a pair of walkers tied together, three-legged.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how the idea happened, to be honest,鈥� said walker and BBC Radio WM presenter PJ Ellis. 鈥淚鈥檓 blaming Pudsey!鈥�

L-R: Gareth Bate, Pudsey Bear and Callum Davidson

Gareth Bate, 蜜桃传媒 senior lecturer and programme lead for sports therapy, along with sports therapy student Owen Bolton-Astley were joined by University alumnus Callum Davidson to provide medical care and support for the three-legged walkers.

鈥淭he Society of Sports Therapists was brought on board to support the walking challenge 鈥� that鈥檚 how we got involved,鈥� explained Gareth. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on hand in case of emergencies, but, mainly, it鈥檚 been blister management, taping feet and keeping an eye on cramps.

鈥淭he support all along the route has been amazing - coming through Handsworth, we were offered samosas and chai lattes!鈥�

Nationwide, BBC local and regional radio stations came together to accumulate 1,000 miles of three-legged walking.

Starting at Molineux, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on Tuesday 4 November, and taking in West Bromwich Albion FC鈥檚 The Hawthorns and Walsall FC鈥檚 Bescot Stadium, before finishing at St Andrew鈥檚, home of Birmingham City FC on Wednesday 5 November, the West Midlands鈥� leg reached far and wide.

For the home stretch, presenters Ed James and PJ Ellis were joined by their partners as they headed to St Andrew鈥檚 and the finish line.

Gareth and Owen get to work at The Hawthorns

鈥淲hen I got home on Tuesday night, I was exhausted but excited 鈥� all the nervous energy in my body, but what wasn鈥檛 hurting was my feet,鈥� PJ added. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been strapped up and looked after, the support from your university and the team has been amazing, I felt quite important!

鈥淚鈥檓 lucky to work for an organisation that does weird and wonderful things, and sometimes you think 鈥榠t鈥檚 just another challenge鈥�, but when you finish it and think about what you鈥檝e done, and I鈥檝e been able to be joined by my wife 鈥� it鈥檚 a privilege鈥 real privilege.鈥�

The Thousand Mile Challenge for Children in Need is just one of many opportunities for sports therapy students to gain valuable practical experience while they study.

This year alone has seen students support participants in the London Marathon, the Great Birmingham Run and the HYROX Birmingham 2025 event: 鈥淚t looks amazing on their CV,鈥� said Gareth. 鈥淪ometimes students don鈥檛 realise that, but it all counts.鈥�

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