Paddy McGuinness’s 300-mile bike ride on a Raleigh Chopper yesterday smashed Vernon Kay’s extraordinary record from last year as he raised £7.5million for Children in Need. Soon after he arrived at the finish line in Glasgow, to be greeted by fellow Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball, he laughed: “I’m going to need a couple of weeks in a dark room to process this.
" His fundraising total rose significantly after Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter pledged to match pound for pound what Paddy raised from Wednesday, up to a total £3million. “I’m absolutely broken and I’ve never been so happy,” Paddy declared as he rode the last 18-mile leg of the challenge. “I know one thing - I've done some crying this last few days - flipping heck Zoe, I've been crying my eyes out!" Sir Tom had joined him for the last bit on his own Chopper, telling Paddy that he’d officially achieved the status of “national treasure”.
And he added: “My old Dad used to say the definition of kindness was helping people you’ll never meet. Thank you for being so kind.” After finishing at 10.
28am, having arrived at the BBC ’s Pacific Quay, he said he’d been overwhelmed by all the support and donations from the public. Choking up, he said: "I can't believe it. Coming out of East Kilbride and I were looking at Glasgow, and it was lit up in sunshine.
And the streets were lined, I had Sir Tom at the side of me as well. I came around the corner there, what a sight, what a f.