Samantha Johnston
Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon reporter

What a rollercoaster of a week it's been for Radio 2's Sara Cox, who just completed her Great Northern Marathon challenge for Children in Need, raising an incredible £7.6 million in the process.

She's covered an epic distance of 135 miles on foot, a distance of five marathons across five days - crossing four counties, plenty of rolling hills and battling bad weather conditions in the process. But she did it, completing her mission to get Pudsey (the bear) to Pudsey (the town in Yorkshire).

Sara's challenge started in Kielder Forest on the Scottish borders, kicking off with the help of Stuart, a piper from Morpeth Pipe Band, and of course lots of Radio 2 listeners whose support throughout the challenge has been invaluable. Popping up en route on day one were some alpacas, an owl, her best mate Clare, the Hexham Town Crier, and some adorable children from local schools with banners and all the cheering for Sara.

Day two saw Sara cover 26 miles from Hexham to Wolsingham, travelling by foot through a lot of hills and a lot of rain, as she told Vernon Kay at the time, "The rain is driving down, the wind is icy. It's just hill after hill". Even Pudsey, who Sara has been carrying on her back throughout this challenge, had a raincoat on. Sara got a boost for the last leg of day two as her dog Daisy surprised her and joined her for a stretch of the journey.

On the third day Sara was not in a good way, everything was sore and she was sleep-deprived. It was another day full of hills, and Sara had to resort to walking backwards to deal with the pain in her legs. She was spurred on by a special mash-up of Five's Keep on Movin' performed by the Radio 2 presenters, a choir of children from Cockfield Primary School, a 40 tractor salute, and a surprise appearance from her pal Gethin Jones - to name just a few things!

Sara covered the longest distance on foot on the penultimate day, pressing on for 29.5 miles from Richmond to the finish point in Ripley. She even found time to join up with another Children in Need challenge, supporting Jude, who was born with spina bifida and is part of The One Show's Challenge Squad. Together they trekked for 8K.

There's been a lot of support along the way, with more dogs (and their owners) coming out to support than you can count, family members and friends surprising her, group sing-a-longs welcoming her at pit-stops, an incredible amount of donations, and even Jeremy Vine trekking up north to surprise her by... jumping out of a hedge. She's also had countless messages of support from the likes of Prince William, Rod Stewart, Peter Kay, Mel C, Paula Radcliffe, Judi Dench and Damon Albarn.

Despite saying "I've not got much left in the tank" on the morning of the final day, she made it from North to West Yorkshire in Storm Claudia and finally reached the finish line in Pudsey to a euphoric celebration.

It's been an emotional week for Sara and everyone following along, and reflecting on the challenge she described it as "the maddest, most painful, wonderful thing" - but her endless positivity and determination kept her going for all 135 miles right to the end.

What a week it's been - there have been so many memorable moments along the way.

Here are some snaps that were taken of Sara Cox as she took her incredible journey, culminating in her reaching the town of Pudsey and raising £7.6m for BBC Children in Need.

As we celebrate Sara's incredible achievement, we're still going through all the messages you've been sending in for her. Let's take a look at a few:

Sara Cox has completed her gruelling 5 day challenge, to get Pudsey the bear to Pudsey the town. She's travelled 135 miles and endured horrible weather and intense physical pain but she did it - and we are so proud of her.

She has now raised £7.6 million, and if you'd like to support Sara with a text or online donation, you can find all the details below or at bbc.co.uk/sara!

While the challenge is over, Sara will be on our screens not once, but twice!

Yes, that's right, you can catch Sara tonight on BBC Children in Need live from Salford from 7pm...

And then catch Sara on Wednesday 19th November for the Sara Cox: Every Step Of The Way For Children In Needspecial, on BBC One at 8pm.

Tina Daheley
Presenting live from Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge finish line

Despite the rain here, let me tell you, there is a real party atmosphere.

People are telling me they're going off to have their own parties just to celebrate Sara.

Thank you so much for your company on the BBC livestream.

We're ending our livestreamed coverage at the top of the page, but have a few more updates to bring you - stay with us.

It's a real party on Radio 2 right now - former Spice Girl is performing a medley of her biggest hits including Spice Up Your Life and Say You'll Be There!

Not only has the incredible Sara Cox completed her 135 mile challenge, we've also just heard that the new total raised for Children in Need is a staggering £7,651,855.

As Scott Mills said, what an unbelievable achievement.

Sara was overwhelmed: "Amazing! That will change so many lives, so many children's lives, so many young people's lives, and their families as well. Thank you so much."

Sara says it's her calves that hurt the most.

"I've never had shapely calves in my life" she tells Radio 2's Scott Mills - "But I have now because they are so swollen, it looks like I've been hit with a bat".

"It's just been the maddest, most painful, wonderful thing I've ever, ever done."

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

I would like to thank Chase and Status and Stormzy for Backbone. And I'd like to apologise to my son because on telly, if it stays on the documentary, I am singing that song quite a lot and it's so cringe. So I am so sorry to my kids.

We spend a lot of time playing brilliant music on Radio 2... I was singing along at one point like a mad woman, singing along to Blur, and all sorts just to try and push through.

Wow, incredible scenes in Pudsey where Sara Cox has just finished her Great Northern Marathon Challenge. Here's some pictures from the moment she crossed the finish line.

Sara Cox is now speaking to Scott Mills on Radio 2.

"It's just the hardest thing I've ever done, I've never known pain like it," she says.

"But then I've never had eye contact with so many amazing woman who have just powered me on," she says. "On the side of the road, in the driving rain, it was bitterly cold. The truck drivers honking their horns, the farmers stopping work just to come and say hi."

"Thanks to everybody who let me stop for a wee at their house - it was a few people!" she adds.

Sara also thanks Professor Greg White, who has overseen her training: "This is fortieth challenge that he's dragged someone through and he told me exactly how to train and how to get strong."

That's one very happy bear at the finish line - Sara has carried her portable Pudsey 135 miles over 5 days, but the full-size version of Pudsey has been there to cheer her on throughout!

This is the moment we've been waiting for - Pudsey the bear arrives in Pudsey the town.

Danny Savage
North of England correspondent

After the equivalent of five marathons in five days - Sara Cox has completed her challenge.

The theme has been pain in the rain. Sara has quite clearly been in discomfort at times and by her own admission has been practising her “birthing breathing” to combat the muscle aches.

I watched her run through the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales yesterday and she was really grinding it out. The roadside support from strangers along the way has been extraordinary. It has helped her through the difficult times.

Dogs, llamas, horses have all been brought out to see the Radio 2 presenter with listeners and supporters raising more than six million pounds. After an exhausting 135 miles, about £45,000 for every one of them is a mileage rate any fundraiser should be proud of.

"It was a really silly idea, such a ridiculous thing to do. That was crazy!" Sara said, upon sitting down to chat to Scott.

When Scott asked her where her portable Pudsey had gone, she said her best friend Clare was looking after it. "That'll be on eBay by five. Get a few quid babe!"

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

I can't believe it, oh my gosh. That was the hardest thing I've ever done. Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, I can't believe it... HELLO YORKSHIRE!

I'm an honorary Yorkshire woman now!