Chris Evans, 53, gave his loyal Virgin Radio listeners the chance to be part of this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon by bidding in a charity auction on his show last week. And, as the bids came rolling in, the host found himself getting a little carried away.
In an effort to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimers Society, Chris and his team encouraged listens to get involved and be part of their campaign at the 2020 London Marathon.
Reeling off name after name and bid after bid from listeners messaging the show with their offers, Chris was so overwhelmed with the support they received that he made a slightly over the top promise.
“Currently, these bids are adding up to £76,611 and if it stays that we are more than grateful, seriously,” he applauded all who took part.
“If it goes over £100,000 then… I’m not sure what will… I might actually explode live on the air,” he stuttered.
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Last year, he raised over £400,000 for Dementia Revolution, a campaign supported by Scott Mitchell, Dame Barbara Windsor’s husband, after the actress was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.
Joined by 50 “big-hearted listeners” in Amsterdam in October, he offered listeners the option to bid for a place to run with him and his team in the marathon, and travel with them in style on his private plane.
The DJ said at time: “We booked the plane, waited for the bids and the big-hearted listeners stepped up to the plate.”
And, after his success in the Netherlands, he set his sights on more races.
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2020 will see Chris and some of his radio friends tackle the Tokyo Marathon in March, followed by the London Marathon and then another after that, all of which the host is currently training hard for.
And, in order to make sure he hits his new targets this year, he promised his Virgin Radio listeners he would bring home a new personal best at the Tokyo Marathon.
It all came after he had his varicose veins removed from his legs, that had been causing him pain and discomfort for the best part of 20 years.
“The varicose veins from the last 20 years have gone!” He exclaimed, happily.
“A personal best in Tokyo, I promise you I’ll run my fastest ever one, since I started running marathons,” he vowed.
“It’ll be my eighth and promise you I’ll run it quicker than any other one, I guarantee that with my new legs!”
Fans will be hoping the radio DJ sticks to his word and brings home that speedy ticket as the first of the three big runs looms ever closer.
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky airs weekdays at 6.30am.
