Zoe Ball's £500k SportRelief triumph in pictures

Zoe Ball has completed her cycle from Blackpool to Brighton, raising more than £500,000 for Sport Relief.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2018, 14:10 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2018, 15:15 BST
Zoe Ball crossing the finish line on Brighton PierZoe Ball crossing the finish line on Brighton Pier
Zoe Ball crossing the finish line on Brighton Pier

The presenter celebrated near Brighton Pier after cycling more than 350 miles over five days in the fundraiser inspired by the loss of her boyfriend, Billy Yates, to suicide.

Ball, 47, was cheered on by fans as she crossed the finish line on Friday, completing the at times “brutal” journey from her birth-town to her hometown.

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“I’m so overwhelmed, thank you for staying in this weather - it’s biblical. I’m so happy to be here, I can’t really believe it. It’s all quite surreal. We did it,” she told the crowd.

Free for Editorial use about Sport Relief available for use until 30th March 2018 Sport Relief handout photo of Zoe Ball with family and friends on Brighton Pier, where the TV host crossed the finish line on day five of her Sport Relief cycling challenge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday March 9, 2018. See PA story SHOWBIZ Ball. Photo credit should read: Victoria Dawe/Sport Relief/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Free for Editorial use about Sport Relief available for use until 30th March 2018 Sport Relief handout photo of Zoe Ball with family and friends on Brighton Pier, where the TV host crossed the finish line on day five of her Sport Relief cycling challenge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday March 9, 2018. See PA story SHOWBIZ Ball. Photo credit should read: Victoria Dawe/Sport Relief/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Free for Editorial use about Sport Relief available for use until 30th March 2018 Sport Relief handout photo of Zoe Ball with family and friends on Brighton Pier, where the TV host crossed the finish line on day five of her Sport Relief cycling challenge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday March 9, 2018. See PA story SHOWBIZ Ball. Photo credit should read: Victoria Dawe/Sport Relief/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Ball battled her way through the elements during 35 hours in the saddle in a journey that will be broadcast in an upcoming BBC documentary, Zoe’s Hardest Road Home.

Comic Relief chief executive Liz Warner praised Ball for raising the life-changing funds and the “priceless” awareness she has raised.

“Zoe has been absolutely amazing. It has been a physical and emotional challenge and she has pushed herself to the limit to help others,” Ms Warner said.

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Cameraman Mr Yates was found dead at his home in May at the age of 40.

Ball said she was aiming to help those living with mental illness.

Statistics from charity Samaritans show more than 6,600 people took their own lives in 2015.

Related topics:Zoe BallBrightonBlackpool