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Friday, 14 March 2008, 18:05 GMT

Sport Relief raises over £20.7m

Sport Relief 2008 has raised a massive £20,747,375 after a great weekend of entertainment and activity on the BBC.

Over £19.5m was raised during Friday's near-seven hour TV extravaganza and the final total was swelled by donations during the Sport Relief Mile show.

There were over 200 Mile events across the UK and people braved terrible weather conditions to raise money.

Sponsorship cash from those who ran the Mile will make this year's final total the biggest in Sport Relief history.

The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events on Sunday saw over 100,000 people take to the streets across the UK to run a Mile and raise money.

Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes abandoned her car in traffic-hit central London and ran to the event on the Victoria Embankment to start one of the Miles.

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She was joined by a host of famous faces including Davina McCall, Tim Lovejoy and kids TV superstar Sportacus.

On Friday night Sport Relief presented the greatest night of TV of the year so far with a glittering show from BBC Television Centre.

Richard Hammond, Gary Lineker and Davina McCall hosted the show, which saw many of the BBC's biggest brands come together for Sport Relief.

There were special Sport Relief themed editions of Strictly, The Apprentice, Top Gear and Question of Sport Relief.

Mark Ramprakash and Matt Dawson renewed their Strictly rivalry, and once again Ramprakash came out on top with his partner EastEnders star Kara Tointon.

Sport Relief presents a very special edition of Strictly Come Dancing

The show got off to a great start as former England star Alan Shearer and TV presenter Adrian Chiles' completed their epic 335-mile bike ride by cycling into the live show.

The duo were met by excited crowds at Television Centre and got the night off to a terrific start by raising £371,065 for Sport Relief.

Jonathan Ross interviewed Michael Parkinson in an eagerly-anticipated showdown of the TV chat show kings.

Comedian Jimmy Carr and Wimbledon winner teamed up to beat Jonathan Ross and Greg Rusedski in an all star tennis clash at the Royal Albert Hall.

GMTV presenter Ben Shephard beat soul singer Lemar over three punishing rounds in front of a glittering crowd in the Sport Relief Celebrity boxing.

Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles arrive at Television Centre

Chris Moyles completed his Radio One challenge live in the studio and Leona Lewis sang the Sport Relief single and there was also a poignant performance from Annie Lennox.

James Cracknell was recognised for his awe-inspiring efforts which saw him complete one of the most difficult sporting challenges ever - a triathlon from England to Africa - with a little help from David Walliams.

Other highlights include Alan Carr training with the Arsenal ladies football team and brilliant singing performances from Ray Stubbs and MotoGP star James Toseland.

But, as ever, it's was the viewers who were the real stars of the show and they rose to the challenge by donating in record numbers.

The money raised will go towards helping vulnerable people both at home in the UK and across the world's poorest countries.

Alan Shearer, Tess Daly, Kelly Holmes and Annie Lennox visited Comic Relief projects and presented emotional appeal films to help people see first hand how their money is improving people's lives.

Thank you to everybody who has donated so far and remember that you can still make a difference by making a donation.

Click here to make a donation to Sport Relief




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Related to this story:

Spice Girls launch Sport Relief (15 Jan 08 |  Sport Relief )
All-Star Tennis (15 Jan 08 |  Sport Relief )
Celebrity boxers named (12 Feb 08 |  Sport Relief )
Blue Peter presenter's amazing Sport Relief challenge (22 Feb 08 |  Sport Relief )
Shearer & Chiles ride - day one (13 Mar 08 |  Sport Relief )

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BBC Sport Relief Website
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