Ramble for Children in Need Countryfile

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Just two weeks ago you joined us in taking to Britain's highways

and byways in a cause close to all of our hearts.

-Let's ramble!

-CHEERING

The third annual Countryfile Ramble For BBC Children In Need.

More than 10,000 of you covered our countryside.

Young and old,

families and friends -

two-legged and four -

all rambling for one very important reason.

Every footstep taken that special weekend helped to raise

so much money for youngsters who are living in desperate need.

And for those of us who took part, there were so many

wonderful memories and incredible stories to tell.

And tonight we're going to be sharing some of those with you

and asking you, our viewers, to take the ramble up to the next level

by showing how together we have the power to help change people's lives.

2017's ramble weekend was our biggest and most ambitious yet.

Come on, ramblers!

You answered our call to ramble

right across the UK.

And we led the way

on rambles of our own.

From the silver sands of Scotland's west coast...

To the forests and lakes of Northern Ireland.

From my mass ramble in Bristol, where hundreds of you

walked with me - and Pudsey, of course...

To my more intimate ramble

through Wales's stunning waterfall country. Whoo!

While I headed out to catch up with some of the thousands of you

who are putting on your own rambles up and down the country.

And as for me, I was heading to the hills of Dartmoor

with an incredible young lady

who was about to take on an epic challenge.

This is Georgia.

-How does that feel? That's not too tight, is it?

-No.

-No, OK.

VOICEOVER: Seven years ago, she underwent an emergency operation

for a cancerous brain tumour -

an operation that left her blind,

mute and unable to control her body.

Right, shall we go? Yeah?

VOICEOVER: But she's fought back and today Georgia will attempt to walk

further than she's managed since her diagnosis.

Before Georgia was diagnosed,

I guess we were a very typical family unit,

just the four of us together.

Georgia was incredibly active, took part in all the school's sports,

played a lot of tennis, incredibly competitive.

She would always want to win.

She was a very vivacious girl. Very charming, chatty.

Just a really sweet girl. Sweet older sister.

When Georgia was 11, she started suffering from continued headaches.

Her parents became increasingly concerned.

We both knew - Mum and I knew

that something wasn't quite right.

So we took her every night to A&E,

literally every night to A&E.

And they did some scans on Georgia - expecting to find nothing -

in fact, found a really large tumour.

Although she's fought back, helped by medics,

her family and support from Children in Need,

Georgia still faces many daily battles,

such as mobility problems and chronic fatigue.

Another long-lasting effect of her operation is that she now has

a much lower emotional response, meaning the only time

she feels truly alive is when her heart is racing.

With that in mind, there was only ever one way

to get Georgia to the start line and set her up for the day.

Your carriage awaits.

Someone's kindly donated us a lift.

-Comfy?

-Yeah.

Not surprised - you're in the lap of luxury here!

As we near the site, we see the scale of our task laid out below,

and our small band of hardened walkers, joined by Georgia's family,

all ready for the off.

It's all walking from here.

How we doing, everyone? Are you all right?

Let's link arms and let's get rambling. Come on, team!

Let's do this!

Our ramble stretches just over three miles.

Starting below Row Tor,

we follow a steep climb to West Mill Tor

before weaving across the tops,

eventually descending downhill into the valley below

for the final stretch to the finish line.

Our troop is in high spirits as we set off.

But for Georgia, who's only ever attempted the sedate surfaces

of pavements and parks since her operation,

every step on this alien terrain is going to be a new experience.

We're actually going quite quickly,

so we just need to calm a little bit, cos I know it's exciting

but we don't want to run out of breath.

She's so focused that Georgia's instinct is to set off

at a tremendous pace. But there's a long way to go

and I'm keen that she preserves her energy and finds a slower gear.

We're just losing a layer because we've started quite quickly.

But we're just finding our pace, really, aren't we, Georgia?

Because...

these hills come up and surprise you somewhat.

Ready to go? OK, let's do this.

That's a good pace. That's perfect.

Whatever we're doing now,

this is what we want to try and maintain, OK?

Just letting the old steam out.

Take the lid off. HE CHUCKLES

So I think we'll just do it nice and slowly, bit by bit, yeah?

There's no rush on any of this at all.

That was brilliant, what we did there.

VOICEOVER: This may all be new to Georgia...

Feeling all right?

..but she's had to spend much of her young life learning how to adapt,

and as I'm quickly discovering,

when she sets her mind to something, there's no holding her back.

You tell me when you're happy to go on.

-Ready now?

-OK. Go.

-OK.

As we continue, guide Debs is on hand in case Georgia needs

extra help with her often-precarious balance.

That's it. Hang on a second, let me go ahead.

And...good. Good.

This, to me, looks like the perfect spot to have a little sit.

You just...

..take the weight off.

Turn around.

And...relax.

HE CHUCKLES

It seems the key is to work on short, sharp bursts of energy

followed by regular stops to recharge.

Do you want me to set the alarm for ten minutes?

You can have a little sleep. THEY LAUGH

But there's no keeping her down.

-OK.

-You ready?

Power nap.

-You say when.

-Yeah.

What makes the challenge Georgia's taking on today truly amazing

is that, following her operation seven years ago,

she awoke from a coma unable to walk at all.

When I first met her a few weeks ago,

Georgia told me what she remembers about that time.

I had a special wheelchair to help me hold my head up

cos I couldn't hold it up myself after three months in a coma.

I felt I was on some kind of holiday.

Some holiday.

But Georgia never gave up,

and her determination to conquer any challenge is undiminished -

as long as it involves one vital ingredient.

So, what are we going to take? What's going to be in my rucksack?

-Chocolate.

-CHUCKLING: Chocolate, yeah.

-More chocolate.

-More chocolate, yeah.

HE LAUGHS

A promise she's not let me forget now we've reached our ramble.

I was planning on having more rests than this, Georgia.

-I was planning on having more chocolate than this.

-Were you?

All right, then. Well, I'll do you a deal -

-you slow down and I'll give you some chocolate.

-OK.

HE LAUGHS

And relax.

Whew!

-Chocolate.

-Chocolate break!

-Chocolate break.

-There's a range. There you go.

There's no denying Georgia's spirit,

but ahead of us, the going is about to get a whole lot tougher.

West Mill Tor is the highest point on our ramble.

Leading to its summit is a steep and unforgiving climb,

stony and uneven underfoot.

It's ground on which the military train their troops.

But Georgia's determined to prove she's as tough as they come.

HE EXHALES

Take a breath.

You're doing great, OK?

You're doing brilliant.

That's it.

That's it. Slow down, slow down, slow down.

Back this way now. OK.

Good work!

Fantastic!

What you're doing is incredible here.

And all those people that are watching this...

..they're going to want to give you their support.

-Say when you're ready.

-Yeah.

As we press on, there's no doubt

that the climb is now taking its toll.

But this is a young lady who's spent much of her life fighting.

And she's not about to stop now.

Because she knows that every step will help others receive

life-changing support in their darkest days.

Support that you can give right now.

Slowly, slowly.

And go. Steady.

VOICEOVER: The effort Georgia's putting in

is nothing short of inspirational,

and the summit of West Mill Tor is at last in sight.

Look at this - the top's about 50 metres away.

You are going to conquer this thing.

This is incredible.

What about this?

RAMBLERS APPLAUD

You've done it. You are here.

You are at the top of the most enormous hill

that you have ever walked up.

Oh! How we doing, Dad?

-Very good.

-Tell you what, mate, that was something else.

My ramble partner is simply unstoppable.

She's overcome what life has thrown at her

and now she's daring Dartmoor to do its worst.

But there's still a long way to go before this journey's over.

While Matt's navigating Devon's exposed hillsides,

I'm heading to the wooded valleys of south Wales, and waterfall country.

I'm on the banks of the fast-flowing River Tawe,

with this fabulous lot

and I'm hoping you're all up for a bit of a challenge. Are you ready?

-CHEERING

-Let's ramble!

-CHEERING

-That's the spirit. I love it.

Our route will take us through the tree-lined gorges

of the Fforest Fawr Geopark,

starting near the village of Abercrave

and following the Nant Llech tributary for three miles.

We'll end at the mighty Henrhyd Falls,

the highest waterfall in the Brecon Beacons.

It's a stunning route, but not for the faint-hearted -

there are some steep climbs and the path is wet and boggy.

Luckily, this plucky lot are taking it all in their stride.

And there's one walker in particular who's going the extra mile.

Yeah, it's gorgeous, you're right, it's fab.

17-year-old Amy is completely deaf without her cochlear implants.

She normally avoids crowds,

so coming out on this ramble has taken a huge amount of courage.

Was there anything you were worried about before today about the walk?

People, actually.

And I've heard that the rain can sometimes worry you.

Yeah. Truth is, I hate being wet.

So today was quite a big thing because there's a lot of new people

-and it could easily rain.

-Yeah.

-So you are pushing yourself.

-Yeah.

-And you're doing great.

-Yeah.

-Fantastic. So far, so good.

-Shall we keep rambling?

-Yeah.

-All right, let's keep going.

Amy's mum Wendy and the rest of the family are here to support her

through the challenge.

She was born prematurely.

She was nine weeks early. Weighed 2 lbs 7.

And she was there for eight weeks in special care in the local hospital.

Brought her home, and around about nine months old we found out she was

deaf, by just banging doors and hoovering,

and she just keep sleeping through everything.

And we thought, "Something's not right. Better get her tested."

And that's when we found out and, oh, it was heart-breaking.

Really was.

Even though Amy was faced with all of these challenges

from a young age,

it wasn't long before she was speaking three languages -

British Sign Language, Welsh and English.

Little school was fantastic. She had the best one-to-one ever.

And then things started to change when she went to big school.

It's a bit harder, the work was tough and...bigger class, more noise

and, um...things just went downhill a bit.

I can't hear with a group, because a lot of people talking,

I don't know which one is talking and it's very hard for me

to lip-read them while talking as well.

Because of Amy's challenges at school, she found it very hard

to make friends and became more and more isolated.

I was shy. I was really scared to go to school because it was breaking

my confidence down and I just daren't leave the house

becuase of bullying...

It... It...

It was hard for me, actually.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Living in a small village and unable to meet those

facing similar challenges, life was pretty tough for Amy.

But through help from Children in Need, she's now supported

by the charity the Centre Of Sign-Sight-Sound.

Thanks to them, things are now looking brighter.

It gives those children a real opportunity to share experiences,

to just have a break, to be a child, have some fun,

but also we do a lot of work around self-identity, self-confidence,

and how to cope with living with a hearing loss.

The group also use the great outdoors to help build confidence.

We've been doing lots of things to meet new friends

and with these activities, that push me to the limit

because they challeng me to do things I don't want to do,

to make me feel a little bit more confident than I was before.

It's a challenge for me but... I just go for it.

Back on the ramble, we're now an hour in,

but Amy's fear about being in a big group is hitting her hard.

OK? Give yourself two minutes.

And on top of that, she's got a chest infection.

But she's determined to go on.

It's a tough day. It's a tough day.

-It feels like I can't breath...

-You're doing so well, though.

Everybody's really proud of how you're doing.

With the full support of everybody on the ramble today,

Amy's back on track.

By donating to Children In Need, you're helping young people

like Amy become more confident and independent.

Your money could make a huge difference,

so if you'd like to donate, all you need to do is text.

Our ramble through the Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country

truly is a magical experience.

National Trust ranger Rob Reith knows this landscape well.

There's another beautiful waterfall there, Rob.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Why is it that there seems to be so many around here?

Well, there has been numerous...

..geological faults - which is a weakness in the layers of rock -

often appear in the landscape as valleys.

I mean, it's been cut out, mainly it's in the last, sort of,

20,000 years ago, the last Ice Age, the ice meltdown just scoured out

these gorges, which has now created a bit of a microclimate.

We've seen some spectacular waterfalls so far.

What have we still got to go?

The highest waterfalls in South Wales to look forward to.

-Right, shall we go and have a look?

-We'll go and have a look.

Lead on.

It's not long before the sight

and sound of the mighty Henrhyd Waterfall is upon us.

Yeah, beautiful. It is.

SHE WHISTLES

Standing at 90 feet tall,

its thundering presence is quite literally earth-shaking.

This is it!

The end of the ramble!

THEY CHEER

Well done, everybody. Well done.

Ramble complete.

Amy's done incredibly today to conquer the challenge of being in a

group, but she also has a fear of getting wet -

as water can damage her ear implants.

And she's decided to tackle THIS fear head on, too.

Even though it means removing her implants,

leaving her totally deaf and feeling even more exposed.

We are in a downpour here.

Yeah!

Whoo!

We are getting wet here.

Well done.

She did it!

You are a role model.

Thank you for helping Children In Need.

THEY CHEER

Amy's proved to everyone today that whatever challenges come her way,

she can overcome them, with courage, determination,

and incredible spirit.

While we were out on our ramble, thousands of you also

took to the countryside raising money for Children In Need.

Every effort mattered,

whether small or large, and they didn't come much larger than Adam's.

In Bristol, hundreds of you are preparing to ramble.

And what better place to start than here at the magnificent

Clifton Suspension Bridge?

The party's in full swing, and it's an awe-inspiring sight.

Hundreds of Countryfile viewers crossing Bristol's most

famous landmark, designed by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

And leading us across is another well-known figure.

It's Pudsey the bear!

Our route today is just shy of three miles long,

heading across Clifton Suspension Bridge,

and then up into Ashton Court country estate.

Once here, we'll wind our way down to the Mansion House,

and finish line.

As we enter Ashton Court, it feels like we're leaving the city behind.

I'll see you in a little bit.

-Bye!

-Bye!

And as the gang carry on their way,

I'm taking a quick detour to meet up with a man who often

views this landscape from a very different perspective.

The founding father of British hot-air ballooning, Don Cameron,

who's tested each one of his balloons on this very patch of land.

-Don, great to meet you.

-And you.

My word, what a balloon.

And why here?

Well, Ashton Court is a wonderful place to fly.

We can fly out over the countryside, but we have sheltered take-off here.

And Bristol has now become quite a centre for ballooning.

Yes, that's right.

We have the big balloon fiesta, where we have 150 balloons

taking off off every day, and a lot of visitors,

about half a million visitors.

Don is a legend of ballooning,

with a career spanning half a century.

He's also set many world records, and although he tests his balloons

locally, his adventures have taken him all around the globe.

The first to cross the Alps and the Sahara,

but along the way he's had a few lucky escapes.

I have flown across the Atlantic.

Well, I tried once, and didn't quite make it.

Finished in the water.

-And the second time I did make it.

-Goodness me.

It's been quite a lot of fun.

It's much better than a proper job.

Whilst those joining us today might not have crossed continents

like Don, they have travelled from far and wide,

and they're a stylish bunch.

Look at you in your Union Jack suit!

I do make it look good, don't I?

Also striding out ahead are the Penn family from Herefordshire.

Oh!

I nearly fell over!

They're rambling for a cause very close to their hearts.

The Penns are just one of the many families across the country

who are supported by Children In Need.

Mum Dee, dad Jody, and kids Isabel, nine,

and Amber, 12, and 14-year-old twins, Toby and Corey.

-Toby's a doer.

-Mm.

Corey's a thinker.

They're happy-go-lucky, they'll muddle in with most things.

-Yeah.

-Jog. Do you want to jog?

But both boys started having problems

with their sight at primary school.

One of the teachers came up and said, "Can you take them

"for an eye test, cos they may need glasses?"

We then got to see the specialist,

and he said, "They've got scarring on the back of their eyes.

"We're not quite sure what it is."

After further tests,

it became clear that the boys would eventually lose their sight.

I'm not scared any more.

You're not scared any more,

-but there's nothing to be scared of, is there?

-What a brave boy.

We thought, "No, we can get through this."

People lose their sight every day and still carry on.

But, unfortunately, a few years passed and the seizures started.

More test results followed.

So it was sent out in letter form.

And I can remember seeing it for the first time -

Batten's disease.

Batten disease is an extremely rare,

life-limiting hereditary illness.

It can lie dormant for years until any symptoms are shown.

As yet, there is no known treatment or cure.

As Batten disease is an inherited illness,

the girls had to be tested, too.

Izzy tested positive.

It was like you'd been hit by a bus twice.

Just really, really...

It's bad enough with just the boys,

but then it's our little princess at the same time.

We've recently found out Izzy's started to lose her eyesight.

And the frustration that she gets built up inside her,

you just can't do anything, and as a dad and a mum,

it is just gut-wrenching, because you're meant to be there to be able

to protect and sort any problems out, but unfortunately you can't.

Getting out and about in the countryside

is a huge help to the Penn family.

As is the support they receive from Children In Need

through their local hospice, Acorns.

It's just such a peaceful, beautiful, lovely place.

And you see all the children smiling, playing.

-It's our kids' happy place now.

-Yeah.

The twins and Izzy have one-to-one care,

and the hospice make sure sister Amber is supported, too -

sharing time with others who also have brothers and sisters

with a life-limiting condition.

We take the strength from our kids.

If they can smile, we can smile.

If they can still be running about and enjoying themselves,

we've got to make the most of it while we can.

-We're the winners!

-We're the winners, are we, Tob?

We are winners, aren't we?

With every moment so precious,

the family are focused on living each day to its fullest,

and making memories that will last for years to come.

I'm catching up with Jody and Dee to find out about another special

event and how the kids are getting on today.

They seem to be taking it all in their stride.

Oh, they take everything in their stride.

That's just them in general, isn't it? They just carry on.

They'll have a go at anything, and that's how we like it,

-really, as well.

-What have you been up to at the moment, then?

-Well, we recently got married.

-Got married!

-Yes.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

So what made you decide to get married?

We wanted our children at the wedding.

And while they were still mobile so they could walk down the aisle,

and be a part of our big day.

And obviously the boys being ring bearers,

and our little princesses being bridesmaids,

it was a fantastic day.

Izzy, I got her the most beautiful dress...

..that I could find.

And she absolutely loved it.

She was like a bride herself, wasn't she?

-Oh, well done.

-Yes, she was. Yeah.

And it is all about creating these memories and special times,

-isn't it?

-Yeah, everything is about making memories, isn't it?

And trying to keep everything as normal as possible.

But trying to make everything as special as possible

at the same time.

-Well, today is all about being happy.

-Yeah.

And we've got a few surprises for you on the way,

-so we'd better go and catch up.

-OK.

And that's what it's all about, creating memories,

and making sure other families in desperate situations

get all the help they need.

And you can help right now, simply by texting.

As ramblers complete the course,

we near the finish with the Penn family, too,

but there's time for one last huge surprise.

Ta-da!

-Mr Tumble!

-Hello, it's me, Mr Tumble!

Oh! Ho-ho!

-CBeebies superstar Mr Tumble...

-Hello!

..is a hero to Izzy, Toby, Corey and millions of other children.

-Yeah, I've heard all about you as well.

-I said you were famous.

-Here it comes.

-HE HONKS

Very good, Mum!

Then we need to wobble our cheeks - like this, very serious.

Let's finish the walk, shall we?

Come on.

What a day it has been for the Penn family,

and what a fantastic finish to the ramble.

THEY CHEER

Let's have three cheers. Hip, hip...

-Hooray!

-Hip-hip!

-Hooray!

-Hip-hip!

-Hooray!

It's these special moments that are priceless to the Penn family

and, hopefully, ones they'll cherish for a long time to come.

While some of the team are leading their own rambles,

I'm taking on the challenge of catching up

with as many of you as possible,

taking on your own sponsored walks.

I'm kicking off on the West Pennine Way,

just north of Manchester, in Lancashire.

These moors are full of history,

like the 19th-century Peel Tower,

built in memory of Prime Minister and local Sir Robert Peel.

And I'm here to meet a big group of ramblers who are determined to

make the most of this landscape.

Now, they must be around here somewhere.

I reckon...up there would be a good place to spot them.

Wow! I probably didn't need to be up quite this high to see THAT lot.

This group of 40 ramblers are walking six miles today.

For one of them in particular,

this is an extra-special ramble,

not just because she's raising money,

but because she actually helped to create the West Pennine Way.

40 years ago, the whole area, the West Pennine Moors was...

Well, it's surrounded by the former mill towns of Lancashire and

the moors were black from all the soot and grime from the chimneys.

But now, after 40 years, it's gone back to its former glory.

Why did you feel it was important to create this route?

I thought it was important

because we have

so many interesting places all over the West Pennine Moors and this was

a route to link them all together and it had never been done before.

Roughly how much do you think you might have raised today?

-I would think it will be somewhere around £500.

-500?

-Yes!

That is fantastic, you've done so well.

Christine and the gang have nearly finished their walk,

but I'm just getting started.

There are rambles going on all over the country and the next one

I'm heading to is six miles across the hill to Rossendale.

And this walk has almost as many four-legged ramblers as it

does the two-legged kind.

Ramble organisers Bob Turner and Julia Leach are keen walkers,

but that's not their only motivation today.

Their route is lined with breadcrumbs.

I'm joining them 3½ miles in

and my tummy's rumbling.

We started off at Julia's mum's

with a promise of bacon butties,

which we had, and then we're heading to my house for the promise of soup.

-A combination of good food and a good cause?

-Yes,

-and we've had a good chat.

-I think we've got quite a bit of money.

How much do you think you may have raised?

About £250, I think, at the moment.

-I think there's still some more money to come in.

-That's great!

It's brilliant to hear about the money this caravan of people

and animals has raised, but I'm feeling a bit underdressed.

-Do you mind?

-No, help yourself!

-Thank you very much!

I think, in order to earn the soup,

I probably need to look the part.

-There you go!

-Oh, my goodness!

These guys certainly know how to keep their spirits

up on a long walk.

I reckon there'll be some epic snack breaks

happening on these rambles up and down the country.

But if you haven't had a chance to get out and about,

don't worry - you can still get involved

and all it takes is a text.

Almost 300 miles south,

I'm on Dartmoor,

walking with 19-year-old Georgia.

Following an operation to remove a cancerous brain tumour seven

years ago, she awoke from a coma unable to speak or move.

Today, she's attempting to walk further than she's managed

since that operation...

..a three-mile trek across Dartmoor.

She's already amazed us all

by scaling the high point of West Mill Tor.

And before we head off again, I'm leaving Georgia with mum Jane

and catching up with dad Stephen and her younger sister Natasha.

-It seems to me that you've got a brilliant sister.

-Yeah.

I mean, she has her moments, but...!

On the whole, yeah.

I couldn't believe how quickly she went up the first part of that

-course.

-Yes, she's like that when we're playing board games as well.

It's that desire to demonstrate that whatever is in front of her, yes,

she's going to crash through.

And how challenging has it been for you, Tash?

Yeah, it's been a lot harder than I thought it was going to be,

-to be honest!

-Really?

-I thought that first hill was much more than

I imagined it was going to be.

Steve, for you as a dad, I can't imagine what that must have

felt like, to watch her come up there.

Yeah, I mean...

It's extraordinarily proud, obviously.

You know she's going to do it

and then she does it with a bit of style

and a bit of a smile at the end.

She has that drive and that energy

and that determination

and that's going to serve her well.

I mean, she's got hopefully a good, long life ahead of her.

We want to make that the best we can and events like this,

seeing her do those things, just give us real...hope.

Listen, I'm pleased to be part of it.

It's magic times. Magic times.

Georgia's determination is very much in evidence today.

She's refused to let life's obstacles get in her way

and taking on Dartmoor is no exception.

As we drop down onto the Moors,

our biggest problem is holding her back.

As we're now going downhill, we've overtaken all our fellow ramblers!

Slow down!

You see, the thing is, you're not putting in any less effort

than you were going up the hill.

Guy, Debs and I are doing our best to slow the pace,

but Georgia's instinct is to push on.

Time for group leader Mark Agnew to step in.

We need to slow down slightly.

-Oh!

-Yeah, I know!

I can see the smile on your face!

We just need to take it nice and easy, OK?

We're not there yet, we've still got a bit of a way to go, OK?

What I'm really concerned about is you wearing these two out. OK?!

Cos I haven't got anybody to replace them.

We've been told off, Georgia!

I know.

Walk slow!

It's timely advice, as up ahead,

Dartmoor's unpredictable landscape is set to change yet again.

Rain pounds down on these exposed hills, creating bogs and waterways.

We now need to navigate one of these quagmires to carry on our way.

So it's important on this next bit that we follow

the route that the others are showing us,

because otherwise we're going to end up up to our waist in bog.

-And I'll get wet feet so you don't have to.

-That's it, beautiful.

Perfect. Perfect!

Good job.

Let's just take it easy again.

As we once again find firmer ground underfoot, it's a

relief to all of us.

But having expended so much energy earlier on,

then coping with the challenge of crossing one of Dartmoor's

notorious bogs,

Georgia's clearly beginning to tire.

She needs to rest and refuel, so we break out a chair

and Dad steps in with some much-needed nourishment.

Do you want some hot chocolate?

There you go, sweetheart.

Just taking more than a well-earned rest right now.

She wants to raise awareness, she wants to do her very,

very best so that she gets the most amount of support possible

and I just keep saying to her, you just have to calm,

do your thing, take it easy...!

And we'll get there!

And you can help.

It's simple - you just have to pick up the phone

and you just have to text.

As we set off to rejoin the group,

the final leg of our journey begins...

..but there's no easy way out of these hills

and we're not home and dry yet.

Wait, wait...

Scotland's Highland county,

sprawling from the Atlantic to the North Sea.

For my ramble, I've absolutely lucked out.

I'm on the incredibly beautiful West Coast of Scotland. Behind me

you can just make out the islands of Muck, Eigg and Rum.

Now, we might not have the sunshine, but we don't need it -

it's Scotland! What I do need, however, are some ramblers.

As if by telly magic!

Ramblers, are you ready?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-Let's go!

Our ramble route starts from Traigh Beach

along the coast to the silver sands

of Camusdarach

before circling back to the start.

Joining me for these 3.8 miles

are hardy ramblers from far and wide.

-So tell me where you've travelled from.

-I've travelled from London.

All that way? And have you been raising money?

Yes, I've raised £500 so far.

-That's amazing.

-Yes.

-Well done.

-How much money have you raised?

-£350 between the two of us.

Well done, girls. Yes!

It's always a treat to be out and about and someone who's

here for more than the view is

11-year-old Logan, with dad Scott.

He's one of the thousands of children who have been

helped by Children In Need.

Isn't this gorgeous, though?

Yeah, it's lovely, it just...completes me, I feel.

That's how I feel.

That's such a nice way of describing it. It completes you.

So, what do you think about everyone that's come to join us

to raise money for Children In Need?

It's just a testament to the strength and as a person...

Seeing the people coming out today does give me a little lift

and gives you a bit of faith in humanity.

We're all here and we're all for the same cause

and it's a wonderful cause, it really is.

What is that thing they say? It's the journey, not the destination.

That's EXACTLY what they say.

And you know why a lot of people are here, though, Logan?

It's because they saw you talking about your experience.

Logan found out first-hand just how important Children In Need

charities are through the support he received last year...

..the worst of his young life.

Mum, she was...

She was a great woman.

She was a perfect example of a woman

that could be helpless at one point

and then be so strong,

it felt like she could lift the Tower of Pisa

and not even break a sweat.

Whenever she would walk in, she had such a smile

and...and lift a room.

I can see it in Logan now and as he's growing up, I can see it more

and more in his general demeanour.

But the family's life was to change forever.

My wife Olivia was diagnosed with cancer about 2½ years ago

and unfortunately,

the way things were,

she was diagnosed straight in at Stage Four.

The tears I cried could have...

filled every ocean in the Earth five times over.

I think my mum held out very well...

..before she went.

Very well.

Yeah.

In October 2016,

Olivia passed away.

She was 40.

Just everywhere I go, I always get reminded of her.

Erm, he is such a wonderful kid, but, yeah,

he definitely took a knock to his confidence, erm,

as anyone would - I know I have.

But little by little, we're building ourselves back

and moving on with our lives into the future.

OLIVIA LAUGHS

The day after,

the very day after my wife was diagnosed with her terminal cancer,

she took me by the hand and walked me through the door at Maggie's.

Maggie's is a group of support centres offering practical

and emotional advice to cancer patients and their families.

With support from Children In Need,

Maggie's holds special kids' days to help 7- to 12-year-olds

understand what's happening to their loved ones.

Sort of place you can just walk in and...

..you'll feel welcome.

Through Children In Need

and with the help of Maggie's,

Logan is now growing in confidence.

With the help and support of others,

we've managed to piece together some kind of future.

We've kind of developed a way to...

stop feeling so bad.

We just kind of have to move on - the world isn't going to stop

because your mum has gone.

You've still got a full life ahead of you.

Sadly, every year,

there are hundreds of children like Logan who lose a parent.

The support that Children In Need offer to guide them

through the most traumatic of times is absolutely essential

and you can help ensure that they continue to receive that support

just by texting.

It was Logan's birthday yesterday,

so we've organised a little surprise to make him smile -

a special message from his favourite Time Lord, Peter Capaldi.

Press play on that.

Happy birthday to you, Logan!

I hope you have a lovely day. And I want you to look after yourself, OK?

And hey, Logan - look after your dad, too. You're both cosmic.

-That's awesome.

-Great, eh?

That's such a wonderful thing, thank you so much.

-That's your special birthday message.

-Fantastic.

I'll never look at Doctor Who the same way again, you know?

And, as we rejoin the ramble,

spirits here are high,

despite the wild Scottish winds.

Perfect sand dunes, that gorgeous green sea,

the silvery sand

and if it wasn't for the weather,

I'd think I was on a tropical island.

And there's a good reason for that, as one of our ramblers,

local Henrik Chart,

is about to reveal.

Why are these beaches so white?

There's a creature which looks...

Everyone calls it a coral, but in fact it's a red seaweed.

Basically, this is something that grows out at sea

and then, when it dies, it gets washed ashore

and then the pink disappears.

If you look on the beach, there's just loads and loads of it.

This seaweed is called maerl.

When it's alive, it's an important habitat for marine wildlife,

but when it dies, its calcium skeleton gets washed ashore

and broken down into tiny pieces

that give these beaches their distinctive tropical look.

Shells are another special feature of the beach

and have been drawing beachcombers here for generations,

especially the sought-after Arctic cowrie.

There's a local folklore that if you have one of those in your purse,

you'll never be short of money, so they're highly sought-after!

We're collecting lots of shells today, but we will of course

-be putting them back.

-Of course, of course.

They're here to be looked at by everyone and if you just

look at them and put them back, then it's there for everyone to enjoy.

And so we come to the end of our adventure on this magical

part of the Scottish coast.

And Logan has been spending the day giving our cameraman

a run for his money.

-How you doing?

-It's working well, yeah.

This has been a proper adventure!

One word...

..to sum up today.

-Breathtaking.

-Ooh!

-Instantly.

That was two! But I'll let you have it!

And Logan was definitely right -

it really has been breathtaking indeed.

Down in Lancashire, I've had a brilliant day so far, dropping

in on a few of your rambles,

but you were walking all over the country and to catch up with

some of you a bit further afield,

I'm pitching up and logging on.

I'm hoping to get through to one or two of you either

out and about or preparing to put one foot in front of another.

Let's see, who have we got here?

Hey!

First off, it's Diane Norburn,

who's rambling 20 miles from here near Wigan.

What a cheery crowd you've got there!

THEY CHEER

Hey! Very good.

I gather you've got another reason to celebrate today,

-as well as Children In Need?

-I have, yes.

I am turning 40, so we're having a double celebration.

We're all getting together

for a walk and raising money at the same time.

-Excellent. Look, have a great day and happy birthday!

-Thank you!

-Bye!

-ALL:

-Bye!

From the North West to the North East,

there's just no stopping you.

It looks like an absolutely beautiful day there today.

Tell me where exactly you are.

We're on the South Shields coastline.

Can you point the camera towards the crowd

-and get them to give us a big wave and a big cheer?

-Definitely.

Right, you need to do a big wave and a big cheer!

CHEERING

-Thank you very much indeed! You have a great day.

-Bye!

-Bye!

Bye, everybody!

From South Shields to way down in Shoreham,

you're playing your part and the next rambler

I'm catching up with is really going that extra mile.

I had an above-the-knee amputation,

so I have a left leg prosthetic.

So, that's incredibly impressive that you're rambling at all.

It's not so bad - last year I did it

because last year was my first year of no operation,

so I thought I'd mark it with something that meant something,

so to raise the money for Children In Need,

and we love Countryfile, so what better way to mark it?

I hadn't envisaged on doing it again this year,

but...saw the programmes and the clips, it's just too

inspiring not to get out here again, really,

I just really want to help.

Well, talking about resilience and courage,

sounds to me like you've got that in barrel loads, so really well done.

-Thanks, Tom, nice to talk to you!

-Bye!

-Bye, take care!

That is fantastic, so inspiring to talk to just

a handful of the hundreds of rambles that are going on out there.

And across the country, thousands more of you were putting one foot

in front of another, helping to put pounds into Pudsey's pocket.

Woo!

We're here in the middle of Bradgate Park

on a Countryfile ramble

on a beautiful afternoon.

-Let's ramble, yeah!

-Yeah, yeah, yeah!

My ramble took me to the foot of Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains

to the dramatic Castlewellan Forest Park -

more than 1,000 acres of glorious landscape,

perfect for observing nature.

Today in the shadow of this magnificent castle,

there's a very special outdoor event taking place. Isn't there?

-ALL:

-Yes!

It's the Countryfile ramble for Children In Need

here in Northern Ireland, so is everybody ready to ramble?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

Let's go!

My ramble is designed to be accessible to everyone.

Starting and ending beside the castle,

we'll follow a circular trail almost 2.5 miles long

around the estate's vast natural lake.

Today's ramblers have joined us from across Northern Ireland,

all walking to raise money for charities close to their hearts.

Pity it's been drizzling a bit today.

Yeah, but we're Northern Irish.

This is our sunshine, so we quite like it.

Well, he's doing it the easy way, isn't he? Who's this up here?

This is Finn.

And for some of our ramblers, this event is even more personal.

People like Aisling Robinson.

Children In Need is helping her

through a project in Lurgan 25 miles away.

-Hello, Aisling.

-Hello.

Why have you come on our ramble today, then?

Erm... I felt like I needed to be on the ramble.

I feel that it's important for me to do the ramble

even though I've got special needs and stuff.

Walking does make me quite tired,

but I'm going fine and if I need to stop, I'll need to stop, so...

Yeah, you just stop if you feel you have to.

Aisling's affected by Williams Syndrome,

a genetic condition which can lead to medical problems including

cardiovascular disease and it can also cause learning difficulties.

She's helped by the Yes Programme run by Lurgan YMCA and she and

her friends from the group have all come along to join in the ramble.

The Yes Programme is funded by Children In Need.

It gives young people with special needs and learning difficulties

the chance to take part in activities

they wouldn't normally have access to.

Yeah, guys!

With Williams Syndrome, something like canoeing

would be impossible for Aisling without their support.

-There we go, good going.

-Whoo!

Being on the canoes today was very fun.

The craic we had on the boat was just, like, unreal!

As you probably could see,

my strength with the canoe was not good.

The paddling was difficult and there were points where I felt tired,

but I think people with Williams Syndrome have to deal

with their tiredness.

The programme not only gets them outdoors,

it also provides life skills and promotes independence.

Youth worker Jonny Hill sees first-hand how it transforms lives.

It offers respite for the family, but I think aside from that,

it's just a great place for the young people to learn

and to do new things, to try new activities.

Do stuff but they don't always get the opportunity to do.

Aisling's condition isn't just physical.

It also affects her social interactions,

leaving her unable to go out alone,

so a safe space to mix with others of her own age is critical.

Big smiles!

Changes that I've seen in Aisling, I think

she's getting way more involved in different things.

You know, Aisling's just so social she's one of the people who

travels around the centre and is friends with everybody.

Above all, the Yes Programme offers young people like Aisling

a lifeline against loneliness.

It's good to feel good about yourself and not let...

..comments get you down and, like,

the way you're judged on Williams Syndrome.

But at the YMCA, they don't...

They don't judge us whatsoever, so I think it's quite good.

Well, I think we all agree, don't we, that the Yes Programme

here in Northern Ireland is doing really vital work

in helping young people with special needs

develop their confidence and hopefully

have a really bright future.

And you can help with projects like this. All you have to do is text.

Castlewellan is a great place for a ramble and for me today,

there's also the chance to walk down Memory Lane.

I'm keen to find out how the spectacular Peace Maze

here in the grounds, a memorial to the Good Friday Agreement, has grown

since I was here for Countryfile in 2002, shortly after it was planted.

So, I'm letting our Yes team loose on a ramble detour.

One bit of advice - try and stick together a bit!

Also heading for the centre is Mark Parker,

the estate's head of recreation.

Well, what a difference, Mark,

since I was last here. I mean, you could really get lost in it now.

Yes, well, the hedges here have really grown. The yew plants here.

And it's symbolic, isn't it, the yew?

Yes, we deliberately chose the common yew.

It's found right across the British Isles.

And there are other symbols here as well, aren't there?

Oh, yes, absolutely. The actual design of the maze itself,

you have a common starting point,

you have a transitional point where you have to cross over

and you have to make that mental transition

to cross over to the other side.

And there's a rocky road.

The rocky road to peace, yes.

There's been troubles along the way, unfortunately,

and that has been built in as well, but the important thing is that

when you come in here and you're looking to solve it,

you're best to work with others.

-Has anyone ever done this before?

-No.

-Yes!

Oh, no, a dead end!

We have to turn round. It's a dead end.

Let's go back!

Well, we have a ramble to do today so I think we'd better

rescue our young people in there and show them the short-cut out.

-A good idea.

-JOHN CHUCKLES

-Right or left?

-This way.

-Here we are at the end of the maze...

-Woo!

-Oh, wow!

-..and look who's waiting to say hello.

Hi, Pudsey.

Here's Pudsey. Somebody want to take him with us?

-Yeah!

-Extra member of our team?

-Woo!

Right. And off we go this way, back to the ramble.

Yeah!

But with her Williams Syndrome,

the distance is taking its toll on Aisling.

My back was starting to hurt, so I had to literally just sit down

and get a chocolate bar into me, so that's why I was a bit behind yous.

-And a chocolate bar has done a bit of wonder, has it?

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

-Good.

-Well, let's try and catch up with the others, shall we?

-Yeah.

She's fiercely determined, but a short while later

she's exhausted and decides to hitch a lift in the support vehicle.

But even though she's too tired to continue, Aisling is determined

to be there for her friends from Yes at the finish line.

Yeah!

Well done! Woo!

THEY CHEER

Aisling. How are you now?

-Good.

-Are you all right?

-Well done, Yes.

Yeah, well done, everybody.

And here's to Children In Need!

THEY CHEER

A truly memorable day, where the drizzle didn't dampen our spirits.

And if you fancy a ramble, you might want to know the five-day forecast.

The Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need 2017

took the country by storm.

Tens of thousands of you got out there in groups small and large,

from the lowlands of the UK

to the heights of Kilimanjaro -

everyone knowing that by putting in some effort you can change lives.

And perhaps no-one was more aware of that than 19-year-old Georgia,

taking on a three-mile trek with me over the hills of Dartmoor.

At just 12 years old, Georgia awoke after an operation to remove

a cancerous brain tumour unable to speak or move.

Now, seven years on, she's fought back amazingly.

And although she still faces everyday problems

including mobility issues and chronic fatigue,

she's determined to let nothing hold her back.

Georgia's coped with hills and bogs on this uneven terrain

over a distance greater than she's ever walked since her operation.

Now we're only final push towards the finish.

But to get there, we've got to navigate a steep

descent into the valley below.

Right, stop.

I need to be in front of you, OK? The whole time.

If I'm not in front of you, what are you going to do?

-Stop.

-Stop.

Great.

Wait. Hang on.

Georgia's surgery has left her with an uncertain

sense of balance, which is a real cause of concern here.

But this is a young lady who takes everything full throttle.

She thrives on high-octane events such as skydiving and abseiling,

as her operation has left her

with a much-lowered emotional response level.

Wait, don't go anywhere yet. Don't go anywhere, stop.

She literally knows no fear.

The worry is that in this situation it could be her undoing.

-Wait, wait.

-Ah!

Got you.

And step.

And stop.

Wait a second.

No, it's slipping.

Wait, wait, wait. Wait until I say go.

Just wait until I say go, OK? Wait. Don't go yet.

-It's going to be a very big step down.

-And go.

-And stop again.

-Well done.

-Well done.

Wait for me.

And go.

Lovely. Fantastic.

-Have you got her?

-Yeah, go.

-Fantastic.

-Perfect.

-Fantastic.

Stop again.

Stop again.

That's it. Well done.

There we are. Down.

-APPLAUSE

-Woohoo!

-Woo!

VOICEOVER: We've negotiated this tricky descent safely,

but it's taken a lot out of Georgia, who's already been

pushing herself on these hills for the last four hours.

A real risk now is overheating,

as she finds it hard to regulate her temperature.

So a nearby stream provides the chance to cool off

in her favourite fashion.

Do you want to... What do you want me to do, rub it all over your head?

Is that what you want?

Are you sure? OK. HE LAUGHS

All right, stick your head down there, then. Ready? Ooh!

Any more? More?

How's that?

Yeah? Are we done?

Tell everybody at home how refreshing the Dartmoor water is.

-Cool.

-HE LAUGHS

The more level landscape of the valley bottom

marks our route to the finish line.

But Georgia's energy levels are dropping fast.

Whoops-a-diddle.

Before today, Georgia had been walking on pavements

as opposed to this unforgiving terrain.

And although her determination has shone through,

we're all sensing that she's reaching her limit.

The finish line is in sight.

It's just round the corner.

You've put so much into this.

We've been going for quite a while here.

Yeah?

And what you've achieved is remarkable.

Sure?

Take the time you need.

There we go.

Feel better?

Georgia is giving this everything

because it's so important for her.

She's doing this so that other youngsters in their darkest days

can have the same support that she received -

and it's support that you can give right now.

All you have to do is text.

The end is now just a few hundred yards away and, knowing that Georgia

loves anything high-adrenaline,

there is the chance of one more surprise.

But after a long, long day, I need to check in with Dad first.

You know what, I think if she came this far and she didn't do it,

-I think I'd be in for a hard time.

-So...

-Yeah, we're in.

-Shall I introduce her to the concept?

-I think so.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-All right.

-I think so.

-OK.

Last few steps now, Georgia.

Nearly there.

Look who's here!

-APPLAUSE

-Whey!

Woo!

There you are.

MATT CHUCKLES

All right. Well, it's kind of the end,

but it's kind of not the end.

LAUGHTER You know the way that

I've got friends in high places?

Yeah? Well, I've got a friend who's pretty

high at the moment at the top of that bridge.

And if you would like to, we can abseil.

-THEY LAUGH

-Aw!

And that's kind of the real finish.

# You shoot me down

# But I won't fall

# I am titanium. #

This is the way to finish the ramble.

Hello down there!

We are done.

This year's ramble weekend exceeded all of our expectations,

beauty and bravery on show in equal measure...

Woo!

..a breathtaking sight as an army of ramblers covered the nation.

Maybe you rambled,

maybe you texted from home,

the important thing is to take that step and do something,

because together our individual efforts will help thousands of

children in need.

Your ramble, your text, will have changed lives. Thank you.

THEY CHEER