Triumphant scenes as Jill Scott finishes epic feat
BBCFormer Lioness Jill Scott was met with cheers and applause from crowds as she crossed the finish line of her epic Sport Relief challenge.
Over five days, she ran and cycled 388 miles (624km) from Wembley Stadium in London to her home town club Sunderland's Stadium of Light.
Her challenge has raised £470,677 so far, and Scott said raising money was her attempt to give back to the next generation.
Speaking after crossing the finishing line, she said: "Sunderland is home this is community, family, friends - it means the world."
"My legs are numb, all my blisters have popped on my feet, my ribs are even hurting - I'm in a lot of pain," the 39-year-old said.
The race has been tough going for Scott and among the challenges she faced were torrential rain, punishing hills and mounting exhaustion.
The England legend stopped along the way at football stadiums and community hubs that have been a part of her life and career, including Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City and grassroots community team Bishop Auckland FC Ladies.
She said she was "100% committed" to finishing the challenge because she wanted to "make a difference" to people's lives.
PA MediaScott's journey:
Monday: A 112-mile (180km) bike ride from Wembley Stadium to Villa Park in Birmingham
Tuesday: Another bike ride - 99 miles (159.3km) to Everton Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool
Wednesday: A 38-mile (61km) run to Manchester City's Joie Stadium
Thursday: A "Tour-de France style" 111-mile (178km) cycle to the north-east of England
Friday: A 28-mile (45km) marathon finish to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland
"In sport you're taught that showing pain is a weakness, so I keep trying to hide it and smile through it," she said.
"But this is completely different to any pain I've ever felt - and I retired four years ago, so I haven't exactly been training since then."
Scott also finally got to see the newly-designed mural of herself in Sunderland as she got closer to the finish line, describing it as "amazing".
"This is incredible," she said. "The detail is amazing - I don't think my teeth are that white but I'll take it."
She has also received a lot of celebrity backing along the way - including her former Lioness manager Sarina Wiegman who said she had supported her "every step of the way".
Long distance runner Sir Mo Farah told her to "believe in yourself", Radio One DJ Greg James urged her to "keep going" and Sir David Beckham wished the footballer luck and said "you've got this".
'Community and support'
Scott said it had been "community and support" which had got her through the gruelling legs.
Of the huge crowds who had come to cheer her on in her home town, she said: "This is community, family, friends - it means the world."
Asked what she would do next, she said: "I think I'll have a beer - catch up with family and friends.
"I'll probably be walking around Sunderland for a couple of days."
At least half of the funds from the challenge will support local Sport for Change projects - using sport to create safe, inclusive spaces, while the rest will fund Comic Relief's wider work.
You can find out more about the challenge on the Sport Relief website.
