Ben Shephard's Coast to Coast challenge from Whitehaven to Tynemouth

Day 1 of the Coast to Coast challenge Credit: @benshephard

Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard is cycling, running and swimming 210 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth to raise money for the Children's Heart Unit Fund (CHUF).

The gruelling challenge includes a day which will see him run 37 miles from Alston to Corbridge.

Today, he has been taking part in a 1 mile swim at Derwent Water before cycling 65 miles to Alston.

The team started at Whitehaven at the weekend, where they set off on an 81 mile bike ride.

Ben's joining Whitley Bay dad and lifelong friend, Ivan Hollingsworth, who has raised nearly £500,000 for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) through his Seb4CHUF organisation.

Ivan, who’s seven-year-old son Sebastian needed life saving heart surgery just weeks after birth, has completed a range of solo and group challenges from Whitehaven to Tynemouth since his first in 2010. This is his 7th and final Coast to Coast challenge.

Day 2 of their Coast to Coast challenge includes a Derwent water swim Credit: @benshephard

Their Coast to Coast schedule includes:

  • Sunday 24th: 81 mile cycle - Whitehaven to Glaramara

  • Monday 25th: 1 mile swim, 65 mile cycle - Derwent Water to Alston

  • Tuesday 26th: 37 mile run - Alston to Corbridge

  • Wednesday 27th: 26 mile run - Prudhoe to Tynemouth