BBC’s Children in Need is back for another year and the Rickshaw Relay has also made a return.

Today, the team will be cycling through Sunderland before finishing the day’s journey in Durham.

Countryfile presenter Matt Baker MBE returns and joins the team of “five incredibly inspiring young people, all of whom have been supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects”, the BBC Children in Need website explains.

The team will take turns to travel part of the journey with the challenge ending on Friday, October 21.

The Relay will travel across parts of the UK including Warrington, Wrexham and Durham. 

On today’s journey 16-year-old Alexander from Sunderland has begun his journey to Durham from Sunderland for his instalment of the relay.

Alexander was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old, often struggling to connect with other people, and for a few years, he did not talk at all. However, Alexander was able to build new skills and increase his independence through help from local charities.

Grace House and Foundation of Light, both charities supported by BBC Children in Need funding, helped Alexander to build confidence and independent life skills through activities like sports sessions and youth groups. 

You can find out more about Alexander in our explainer here.

BBC Children in Need Rickshaw Relay route for Monday

Here’s the list of locations that the Rickshaw Relay team will pass and the times they’re aiming for, according to MSN.

  • Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light – 8:30am
  • Grace House, Southwick – 8:40am
  • Northern Saints Primary School, Southwick – 9:03am
  • Hylton Castle – 9:13am
  • Castletown Primary School, Castletown – 9:20am
  • Barbara Priestman Academy, Meadowside –10:20am
  • Southmoor Academy Secondary School, Grangetown –11:15am
  • Hill View Junior School, Hill View – 11:15am
  • Easingston C of E Primary School, Easington – 12:45pm
  • Sherburn Primary School, Sherburn – 2:20pm
  • Palace Green, Durham – 3pm

BBC Children in Need has a live tracker that you can watch via the website so you can see where the team is during the relay.

To donate to Children in Need’s Rickshaw Relay as well as other challenges scheduled to raise money for the charity, you can visit the donate page via the website.

Watch the documentary The Rickshaw Relay Rides Again which airs on Tuesday, November 15.