6:30am Friday 19th March 2010
By James Nadal
A SPORTS science expert said he is “proud” to have trained a whole host of celebrities who have now helped raise £8million for Sport Relief.
Marlow Bottom resident Professor Greg Whyte's latest success story is The One Show presenter Christine Bleakley who overcame a childhood fear of water and a wind chill below freezing to Waterski across the English Channel on Friday.
She raised more than £250,000 for charity.
Prof Whyte spent months helping the television host train for the challenge which she described as “torture”.
He also prepared a team of cyclists including Little Britain star David Walliams and Radio DJ Fearne Cotton for a 1,000 mile £1million fundraising ride from from John O'Groats to Land's End.
They completed their journey on March 5.
A documentary about the 43 Marathons completed in 51 days by comedian Eddie Izzard, another of his trainees, aired on BBC 3 this week.
Prof. Greg Whyte, of the Olympic Medical Institute, told the Free Press: “It has been a fantastic experience being involved in these challenges.
“All the celebrities I have worked with have been fantastic, they are not only giving up their time for nothing but they are hurting themselves physically and mentally to raise money for those less fortunate.”
He said: “Comic Relief is a great charity that works with disadvantaged people across the world with a large number of projects here in the UK.
“I am proud to have been part of these huge fund raising efforts that have also engaged the nation and allowed people to believe that they can achieve the impossible.”
The various challenges will be featured on Sport Relief Night tonight on BBC One from 7pm.
Greg's celebrity challenge timeline: July 2006 - David Walliams - Swims English Channel.
March 2008 - Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles - Cycle from Newcastle to London non-stop in 36 hours.
March 2008 - James Cracknell and David Walliams - Swim Gibraltar Straits.
March 2009 - Cheryl Cole, Gary Barlow, Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Aleshia Dixon, Ronan Keeting, Ben Sheppard, Denise Van Outen - Climb Kilimanjaro.
July - September 2009 - Eddie Izzard - 43 Marathons in 51 days around the UK.
March 2010 - David Walliams, Davina McCall, Fearne Cotton, Patrick Kielty, Russel Howard, Miranda Hart, Jimmy Carr - John O'Groates to Lands End Cycle.
March 2010 - Christine Bleakley - Waterski English Channel.
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