Children in Need

A bath of baked beans? A sponsored walk? Non-uniform day? Will you be doing something different for Children in Need this year?

Chris and Karl King from Sunderland will be making a return trip to London on the week of Children in Need.

Nothing special about that you may think? Well, the difference is - they're making the (estimated) 937 mile round trip by public transport but being more adventurous by avoiding the direct train routes.

Two metro journeys, two tubes and 38 buses later they will return to Sunderland after their four-day journey in the very early hours of Friday 14 November, the day of Children in Need, and will join in the celebrations at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Are we nearly there yet?

The vision came to Chris in the middle of the night who then pitched the idea to his brother Karl to tag along.

After doing some research on the Internet, they were quite surprised when they realised it would be a little longer than you may think.

Sporting their new T-shirts

Chris said: "The direct train works out as around 260 mile there and 260 mile back, but obviously that's a direct route.

"Going through the websites it worked out around 937 mile there and back!"

Chris from Pennywell and Karl from Moorside will end the first half of the journey at Piccadilly Circus: "When you see it on the TV, it's always well lit up in the dark so it would be an ideal finishing point."

Amongst a bag full of food, drinks and bits and bobs to keep them entertained on the lengthy journey, they hope to capture each step of the way on film.

"I'll be taking a camera to get as many photos as we can - preferably one at each station so that we have the proof that we have done it," said Chris.

Room in the Inn

Most of the public transport on the route doesn't operate 24 hours a day, so, while planning the route, they have had to plan exactly where they will have time to get some sleep.

The journey will begin at South Hylton metro stop

Chris explains that they have been given a helping hand from various organisations to help with some of their travels and three overnight stays: "Premier Inn are giving us bed and breakfast in Nottingham on the Monday night and the Wednesday night.

"Nexus said the best thing they can do is subsidise the metro fair. I got a letter from Go! North East with tickets in for their local service.

"Arriva are going to reimburse us when we get back. Harrogate and district are going to send us some vouchers to cover the journey.

"Stagecoach agreed to send a letter to cover the journeys."

Chris and Karl will begin their journey from South Hylton on Monday 10 November.

Find out how you can help them and how much they have raised by looking on their website: