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Epic five-day endurance challenge for Sport Relief will see Jill running and cycling 388 miles across England as World Cup fever builds
Money raised will support Sport Relief-funded projects helping to provide safety, support and security for people when they most need it
The route will take Jill from the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium, before blazing a trail north to Aston Villa’s iconic Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and via the Joie Stadium in Manchester, before making an emotional return to her beloved hometown club, Sunderland's Stadium of Light
The public will be able to follow and support Jill’s journey live via a real-time tracking link and across Comic Relief channels throughout the week
For more information and to support Jill, visit www.comicrelief.com/jillscott (opens in new window)
Tuesday 2 June: Four years after helping to bring football home with England’s historic Euros victory at Wembley Stadium, Jill Scott MBE is trading medals for miles in an epic challenge for Sport Relief.
Kicking off from Wembley Stadium on Monday 8 June, the former Lioness will embark on a relentless five-day long 388-mile test of endurance as she tackles a combination of running and cycling to reach her hometown of Sunderland to raise vital funds for Sport Relief projects which help provide safety, support and security for people when they most need it.
Travelling through Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and the North East, Jill will return to the football clubs, stadiums and – most importantly – the people who helped shape her journey on and off the pitch, inspiring her path to a glittering career with both club and country. Along the way, Jill will be joined by famous faces and surprise guests who will help carry her through the physical and emotional highs and lows of her toughest test since hanging up her boots.
Jill’s journey will not be for the faint-hearted. She spins into action with an intense 112-mile cycle from Wembley to Villa Park, followed by a punishing 99-mile ride to Everton on Day 2. On the third day, she swaps her bike for running shoes to tackle a gruelling 38-mile ultramarathon into Manchester. Thursday raises the stakes further with a brutal, Tour de France-style 111-mile cycling stage into the North-East. Her homecoming is completed on Friday, with Jill set to triumphantly cross the finish line at Sunderland's Stadium of Light following a 28-mile marathon finale.
Jill Scott said: “I honestly think this is going to push me further than anything I ever did in football. I’ve got a dodgy knee, and a few niggly old injuries from my playing days which I need to look after, but I'm determined not to let that hold me back. It’s nerve wracking when I look at some of these distances, running marathons and cycling hundreds of miles back-to-back. Just like throughout my career, I know I'm going to need a community behind me to get me across that finish line.
“This challenge means so much to me because my journey started long before my days at Wembley. It started with people believing in me, supporting me and giving me opportunities when I needed them most. One thing football taught me is that you never get through difficult moments alone. When things get tough, it’s the people around you who carry you through, and that’s exactly what this challenge is about.
“If people can get behind me, donate, and cheer me on, we can do something much bigger than just getting me across a finish line. My dodgy knees and niggly injuries are nothing compared to what so many people are going through right now. Together with Sport Relief, we can help people through the toughest times - and show everyone that no matter how hard things get, no one has to face it alone.”
Ahead of a massive summer of football that will once again unite fans across the country, Jill’s challenge will shine a light on the people and organisations helping others through some of the toughest moments in their lives.
Across the UK, Sport Relief-funded projects are using the power of sport to help people feel safe, supported and secure – creating inclusive spaces where people can build confidence, friendships and resilience, and access support when they need it most.
At least half of the funds raised through Jill’s Sport Relief challenge will directly fund Sport for Change projects in local communities – including initiatives that use football, running, cycling and boxing to create safe spaces for people young and old, bringing them together and providing safety and security when it’s needed most – with remaining funds invested in Comic Relief's wider work.
Samir Patel, CEO of Comic Relief, said: “What Jill is attempting over these five days is truly extraordinary, and we are incredibly grateful for the immense heart and physical effort she is pouring into this challenge. This is set to be a massive national moment, and we can’t wait to watch the public rally behind one of our finest sporting heroes on the toughest journey of her life.
“Jill’s home-coming challenge is about far more than just physical endurance. It is about recognising the communities, support systems, and safe spaces that shape people’s lives and futures. Across the UK, far too many people are facing isolation, hardship, and uncertainty. The money Jill raises will fund vital projects that provide a lifeline, helping people feel safe, supported and secure.
“Jill has always shown us the power of teamwork, and now it is our turn to be her team. We’re asking the public to be right there with her every step of the way - whether by donating, tracking her progress, or lining the streets to cheer her all the way home.”
Supporters will be able to follow Jill’s journey in real time throughout the week across Comic Relief channels, with live updates, special guest appearances and cameos, behind-the-scenes moments and highlights from the road. A live tracking link will also allow supporters to follow Jill’s progress mile-by-mile as she makes her way north towards Sunderland.
To support Jill and track her journey, visit www.comicrelief.com/jillscott (opens in new window) ENDS ASSETS AVAILABLE Photos and video content of Jill can be found here (opens in new window) Launch trailer can be found here (opens in new window) ProRes version of launch trailer available here (opens in new window) FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Comic Relief Press Office
0207 820 2500 (Press Office)
media@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre(opens in new window)
Out of hours enquiries: 0207 820 2444
NOTES TO EDITORS
JILL’S ROUTE HOME
Day 1 (Monday 8 June) – 112-mile cycle from Wembley Stadium to Villa Park
Day 2 (Tuesday 9 June) – Cycle 99 miles from Villa Park to Everton Hill Dickinson Stadium
Day 3 (Wednesday 10 June) – Run 38 miles from Everton to Joie Stadium Manchester
Day 4 (Thursday 11 June) – cycle 111 miles Manchester to Bishop Auckland
Day 5 (Friday 12 June) – Run 28 miles from Bishop Auckland to Stadium of Light
Sport Relief
Sport Relief harnesses the power of sport and entertainment to bring people together across the UK, to get active, have fun and raise life-changing funds. Since launching in 2002, Sport Relief has raised £420million so far, thanks to the generous British public, and supported millions of lives in the UK and around the world.
For over 20 years, Comic Relief’s ‘Sport for Change’ funding has been supporting projects that are using sport to change lives and to help tackle issues including mental health, gender justice, unemployment, and social exclusion.
Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief. For more information, visit comicrelief.com/sportrelief
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty. We raise money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world.
Since launching in 1985, we have raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners.
For more information on our work, visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on Facebook(opens in new window), Instagram(opens in new window), LinkedIn (opens in new window)and TikTok (opens in new window)for the latest content and news.
Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
