Radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans is preparing to cycle nearly 400 miles across the four nations of the UK for BBC Children in Need, an endeavor that holds significant personal meaning for him. Evans, who hosts BBC Radio 2's Early Breakfast Show, will begin his five-day challenge in Scotland on November 9 and finish in Cardiff on November 13. This marks his second major challenge for the charity, following a 24-hour drumathon in 2021.
Evans, 42, has spoken openly about his past experiences with bullying at school, which led to a negative relationship with exercise. "I never enjoyed exercise at school as I was bullied," he admitted, recalling that "football fields or rugby pitches" were not places where he felt safe growing up. He hopes his current challenge will demonstrate that it is possible to overcome such experiences and make a positive change, even as an adult.
"For me, as a 42-year-old man, who's had that experience for his whole life, I guess I am now realising that you can make a change in your life and you can make a difference," Evans stated. He noted that it took him a long time to reach this realization, and the cycling challenge has been instrumental in this personal journey.
This feat will be the longest distance ever covered in a Radio 2 endeavor for Children in Need. Evans, who did not own a bike before preparing for this challenge, acknowledged his lack of experience as a cyclist or endurance athlete. "I'm not a cyclist. I'm not an endurance athlete in any way, shape or form," he said, adding that despite his initial apprehension, he readily agreed to participate because of his support for Children in Need and his existing relationship with the charity. He admitted to recurring doubts about his ability to complete the challenge, questioning, "Am I good enough? Am I going to be able to do this? Will I succeed? Will I finish?"
Reflecting on his training, Evans anticipates that the hills will be the primary difficulty, though he feels prepared for the distance. He is also bracing for challenging weather conditions, as the forecast predicts cold, wet, and windy weather. "Being a weather presenter for so many years... I know there's one thing about the weather you can't do, and that's change it!" he remarked.
Bringing the challenge to a close in Cardiff, his hometown, is something Evans specifically desired. He anticipates it will be an emotional moment, reflecting his Welsh roots and the feeling of "hiraeth" – a deep longing for home. "I believe we Welsh people tend to want to come back home. This feeling of hiraeth is very real, and I certainly felt it while I was away," he shared.