Jamie Laing set off on a monumental challenge for Comic Relief on March 17, as he embarked on a 150-mile run over five days. The journey began from BBC ’s New Broadcasting House in London , and will take him all the way to Salford . His route, which stretches through cities, towns, and villages, will pass through communities supported by Comic Relief-funded partners, who provide essential services to those in need. On the first day of the challenge, Jamie ran through Hyde Park before heading towards Harpenden, passing through areas like Borehamwood and St Albans. The first stop was marked by a surprise flash mob of runners dressed in Red Nose Day vests, bleach blonde wigs, and Jamie Laing face masks, including Radio 1 DJs Sam and Danni, as well as members of The Running Charity. The charity works to help young people experiencing homelessness and complex needs, using running as a tool to support them. Felicity Halstead, CEO of Goodwork, a Comic Relief -funded partner, shared her excitement about the challenge. "We're delighted to be here to support Jamie's Ultra Marathon Man challenge, which will be raising funds for Comic Relief. As a funded partner ourselves, donations make a huge difference to small organisations like GoodWork, allowing us to empower more young people from low-income backgrounds to access great employment opportunities and set them up for success." Jamie was also given a special send-off on BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, where Greg James , the host, shared some words of encouragement from his own challenge. He said: "It’s going to be tough, but you’ve got this, Jamie. Just remember to take it one step at a time." As Jamie began his journey, he was surrounded by friends and family, including his wife Sophie Habboo, and fellow Radio 1 hosts Greg James and Charlie Hedges. The challenge, which is set to raise funds for Comic Relief, will be broadcast live across Radio 1 and BBC Sounds, with video highlights available on the station’s social media channels. Jamie is determined to face both the physical and mental challenges ahead as he pushes through the next few days for an important cause. Earlier this month, Jamie spoke about the painful hip injury he suffered while training. He told Metro: "Shin splints aren't great, my hip feels like it’s about to fall off." The Candy Kittens founder opened up about his mum's worry as well as his wife's, Sophie. He said: "My mom’s a bit worried, to be honest. She’s a bit like, Oh, God, this is a bit much. And my Sophie, my wife, is actuallya bit like, “I’m actually a bit worried for you now." The Radio 1 host admitted that he has never taken on a challenge quite like the upcoming ultra marathon. While he's participated in tough activities before, including cross-country runs, boot camps, and rugby matches, he acknowledged that this challenge is unlike anything he's ever done. He described the upcoming feat as completely wild. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .