Shearer crosses finish line tired but triumphant

Mar 15 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

FOOTBALL legend Alan Shearer cycled to victory last night, raising more than £370,000 for charity.

And the former Newcastle United star won a wager with Kevin Keegan after crossing the finish line just after 7pm , completing 335 miles in two days from Newcastle to London as part of the Sport Relief Super Cycle.

Shearer, who was joined by BBC presenter Adrian Chiles, started the two-day adventure on Thursday from St James’s Park and was waved off by crowds of supporters and his former boss who threw down the challenge to finish no later than 7.30pm. Keegan said: “I’ve had a bet with him, but he will only get it on completion. I won’t say how much, but it’s quite a bit.”

The ride, which clocked up 38 more miles than competitors in the Tour de France compete in a single day, raised a total of £371,065 to help families in the UK and Africa.

In an exclusive interview with The Journal on Wednesday, Shearer shared his experiences after travelling to Uganda to meet families devastated by HIV and Aids.

During his trip he met 48-year-old grandmother Grace who was dying of Aids but thanks to money raised though a Sport Relief-backed project, has been given a lifeline of specialist drugs to help keep her alive.

Arriving at BBC Television Centre London, an unshaven and exhausted Shearer told TV co-host Gary Lineker that his journey had been difficult but worth it.

He said: “It was very difficult, but I think we would always come through it.”

Afterwards Lineker promised Shearer, 37, a “nice soft cushion” for their Match of the Day appearance tonight.

The team cycled through the early hours of yesterday morning surviving on just three hours sleep to make the challenge on time. Shearer’s former teammate Michael Owen was also spotted chasing the star through Tyneside in his £2m helicopter as they cycled down the A19.

The final leg of the event saw the group, who were joined by Wolves and former Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy yesterday at 6.50am, cycle through Warwickshire, Northampton- shire and Greater London before they crossed the finish line.

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Stars rally to Sport Relief

WELL-KNOWN faces from the BBC joined forces for a charity netball match to raise funds for Sport Relief.

Look North presenters Carol Malia and Lara Rostron made up the all-woman team at Newcastle’s Centre for Sport, on the city’s West Road.

Other teams were made up of players from Northumbria University, Sport England and players from the sports centre to compete to be winners.

Rashida Ahmed, BMA community sports development officer, said: "The reason we have done it was obviously to raise money for Sport Relief but also to raise the profile of women in sport."

Elsewhere, Newcastle Falcons stars did their bit for charity by manning donation hotlines on Wearside.

Players with the Newcastle rugby team joined scores of volunteers at a call centre in Doxford Park, Sunderland, taking details over the phone