University support for the Children in Need Thousand Mile Challenge| News

November 2025

'Bear' ing the brunt of blisters! University support for the 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’t seem that tough – the challenge hit home as each mile had to be done by a pair of walkers tied together, three-legged.

“I don’t know how the idea happened to be honest,” said walker and BBC Radio WM presenter, PJ Ellis. “I’m blaming Pudsey!”

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

University College Birmingham senior lecturer and programme lead for sports therapy, Gareth Bate, 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.

“The Society of Sports Therapists was brought on board to support the walking challenge – that’s how we got involved,” explained Gareth. “We’re on hand in case of emergencies, but mainly it’s been blister management, taping feet and keeping an eye on cramps.

“The support all along the route has been amazing - coming through Handsworth we were offered samosas and chai lattes!”

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’s The Hawthorns and Walsall FC’s Bescot Stadium, before finishing at St Andrew’s, home of Birmingham City FC on Wednesday 5 November, the West Midlands’ 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’s and the finish line.

Gareth and Owen get to work at The Hawthorns

“When I got home on Tuesday night, I was exhausted but excited – all the nervous energy in my body, but what wasn’t hurting was my feet,” PJ added. “They’ve been strapped up and looked after, the support from your university and the team has been amazing, I felt quite important!

“I’m lucky to work for an organisation that does weird and wonderful things, and sometimes you think ‘it’s just another challenge’, but when you finish it and think about what you’ve done, and I’ve been able to be joined by my wife – it’s a privilege…a real privilege.”

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: “It looks amazing on their CV,” says Gareth. “Sometimes students don’t realise that, but it all counts.”

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You can donate to Children in Need here